"Evolutionary biology is the subfield of biology that studies the evolutionary processes (natural selection, common descent, speciation) that produced the diversity of life on Earth."
Study of how species evolve and adapt over time in response to changes in their environment or other pressures.
Natural selection: The process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population based on their ability to help organisms survive and reproduce.
Genetic variation: Differences in the genetic makeup of individuals within a population, which can lead to differences in traits and the ability to adapt to changing environments.
Mutations: Changes in the DNA sequence that can create new genetic variations in a population.
Adaptation: The process by which organisms change over time to better suit their environment and increase their chances of survival and reproduction.
Evolutionary history: The study of the changes that have occurred in populations of organisms over time, including the processes and patterns of evolution.
Phylogenetics: The study of the evolutionary relationships between different species and groups of organisms, based on similarities and differences in their physical traits and DNA.
Biogeography: The study of how organisms are distributed geographically, and how this can influence their evolution and adaptation.
Extinction: The process by which species disappear from the earth, and the role that environmental changes and competition can play in causing extinctions.
Fossil record: The evidence of past life that has been preserved in rocks and other geological formations, and how this can be used to trace the evolutionary history of different groups of organisms.
Speciation: The process by which new species arise, and the role that geographic isolation, genetic drift, and other factors can play in this process.
Convergent evolution: The process by which unrelated species evolve similar traits and adaptations, often in response to similar environmental pressures.
Coevolution: The process by which two or more species interact and influence each other's evolution over time, such as in predator-prey relationships or mutualistic partnerships.
Evolutionary psychology: The study of how evolution has shaped human behavior, cognition, and psychology, and the role that genetic and environmental factors play in these traits.
Molecular evolution: The study of how DNA sequences and other molecular markers can be used to trace the evolutionary history and relationships of different organisms.
Comparative anatomy: The study of anatomical similarities and differences between different species, and how these can provide insights into evolutionary relationships and adaptations.
Genetics and epigenetics: The study of the role that genetic and epigenetic factors play in the development and evolution of different traits and adaptations.
Genomics: The study of the entire DNA sequence of organisms, and how this can be used to understand their evolutionary history and adaptability.
Developmental biology: The study of how organisms grow and develop, and the role that genes, environment, and other factors play in this process.
Ecology and environmental science: The study of how organisms interact with each other and their environment, and the ways in which environmental changes can influence their evolution and adaptation.
Ethology: The study of animal behavior and how it has evolved over time, including the role that genetics, environment, and social factors can play.
Natural selection: The process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population due to their ability to increase or decrease an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.
Sexual selection: The process by which certain traits are favored by members of the opposite sex and therefore become more common in a population.
Artificial selection: The process by which humans intentionally breed animals for specific traits.
Genetic drift: The random fluctuation of gene frequencies in a population due to chance events.
Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence of an organism's genes, which can result in a new trait.
Gene flow: The transfer of genetic material from one population to another through migration of individuals.
Coevolution: The process by which two or more species evolve in response to each other, often resulting in mutualistic or antagonistic relationships.
Convergent evolution: The independent evolution of similar traits in unrelated species due to similar selective pressures.
Divergent evolution: The process by which two or more closely related species evolve different traits due to different selective pressures.
Adaptive radiation: The rapid diversification of a group of organisms into many different species that occupy different niches.
Microevolution: Small-scale changes that occur within a population over a relatively short period of time.
Macroevolution: Large-scale changes that occur over millions of years resulting in the origin of new taxa.
Phenotypic plasticity: The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental cues.
Epigenetic inheritance: The transmission of traits from one generation to the next through mechanisms other than changes in the DNA sequence.
Hybridization: The interbreeding of two distinct species or subspecies.
"It is also defined as the study of the history of life forms on Earth."
"Evolution holds that all species are related and gradually change over generations."
"In a population, the genetic variations affect the phenotypes (physical characteristics) of an organism."
"These changes in the phenotypes will be an advantage to some organisms, which will then be passed onto their offspring."
"Some examples of evolution in species over many generations are the peppered moth and flightless birds."
"In the 1930s, the discipline of evolutionary biology emerged..."
"...through what Julian Huxley called the modern synthesis of understanding, from previously unrelated fields of biological research, such as genetics and ecology, systematics, and paleontology."
"The investigational range of current research has widened to encompass the genetic architecture of adaptation, molecular evolution, and the different forces that contribute to evolution, such as sexual selection, genetic drift, and biogeography."
"Moreover, the newer field of evolutionary developmental biology ("evo-devo") investigates how embryogenesis is controlled, thus yielding a wider synthesis that integrates developmental biology with the fields of study covered by the earlier evolutionary synthesis."