Evolving

Evolving is the ongoing process by which characteristics of organisms, populations, or systems change over time. In biology, evolution refers to changes in the frequency of genetic variants, or alleles, across generations. These changes arise from a combination of genetic variation and mechanisms such as natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, gene flow, and recombination.

Natural selection favors traits that improve survival or reproduction in a given environment, leading to adaptation. Mutation introduces new genetic variation, while recombination reshuffles alleles during sexual reproduction. Genetic drift and gene flow can alter allele frequencies, especially in small populations or when migration occurs between groups. Over long timescales, accumulated changes can lead to the emergence of new species (speciation).

Evolving is also used outside biology. In technology, systems or algorithms can evolve through iterative modification and selection of successful variants, as in evolutionary algorithms. Cultural evolution describes how beliefs, practices, and technologies spread and change through learning and social transmission.

Examples include antibiotic resistance in bacteria, pesticide resistance in pests, and shifts in beak shape in birds in response to environmental change. Common misconceptions include the idea that evolution has a fixed direction or goal, that individuals evolve while populations do not, or that evolution explains the origin of life. Instead, evolution describes how differential reproduction of variants in changing environments shapes life over generations.