neoDarwinian
NeoDarwinian refers to the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory that emerged in the mid-20th century. It integrated Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection with Gregor Mendel's principles of genetics. Prior to this synthesis, Darwin's ideas lacked a clear understanding of heredity and variation, while Mendelian genetics, though providing these mechanisms, did not fully explain how gradual change led to the diversity of life.
The neo-Darwinian synthesis posits that evolution occurs through the accumulation of genetic mutations, which introduce variation
Key components of neo-Darwinism include the understanding that genes are the units of heredity, that mutations