Evolutie

Evolutie is the process by which populations of organisms change over generations as heritable traits vary and differential survival and reproduction bias the gene pool. Over time, these changes can lead to adaptations to environments and, in some cases, the emergence of new species. Evolutie acts on populations rather than on individual organisms.

The primary mechanisms include natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, gene flow, and recombination. Natural selection favors traits that increase reproductive success in a given environment. Genetic drift causes random changes in trait frequencies, especially in small populations. Gene flow adds or removes genetic material between populations. Mutations introduce new genetic variation, while recombination reshuffles alleles during reproduction. Sexual selection can shape traits related to mating success.

Evidence for evolutie comes from multiple sources. The fossil record reveals transitional forms and gradual changes over time. Comparative anatomy shows structural similarities among related organisms. Biogeography explains patterns of relatedness across geographic regions. Molecular biology and genomics reveal shared genetic codes and congruent phylogenies among living groups. Experimental evolution demonstrates adaptive changes in controlled conditions and over relatively short timescales.

History and development of the theory trace to early ideas about change in living beings, with Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace proposing natural selection as a unifying mechanism. The Modern Synthesis in the 20th century integrated Mendelian genetics with natural selection, uniting multiple disciplines under evolutie. Ongoing research extends into evo-devo, population genetics, and genomics, refining understanding of speciation, adaptation, and constraints, while maintaining a neutral, evidence-based framework.