Noun. / EH·vuh·loo·shun /
by Jessica Zhang
What does it mean?
In the context of biology, evolution is the process by which living things change over many generations. It occurs as a result of random alterations in DNA (mutations) that create differences in traits like body size, hair color, and behavior, among others. Some of these traits can affect an organism’s chance of surviving and reproducing. Over time, helpful traits appear more frequently, and as these changes build up, they can even lead to the formation of new species.
How do I use it in a sentence?
Through billions of years of evolution, life on Earth has produced an incredible variety of species.
Fig. 1: Giraffe evolution, image is the author’s own work.
Etymology
From the Latin evolutionem, meaning “an opening of what was rolled up”.
Related terms
Natural selection
Mutation
Adaptation
Speciation
Extinction
Common Ancestor
Phylogeny
Fields of study in which this word is commonly used
Anthropology
Paleontology
Ecology
Genetics
Developmental Biology
