From Wikipedia,
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the branch of Biology that names and classifies all living things. Scientists use morphological and genetic similarities to assist them in categorizing life forms based on ancestral relationships. For example, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans all belong to the same taxonomic grouping referred to as a family - in this case the family called Hominidae. These animals are grouped together because of similarities in morphology that come from common ancestry (called homology).
Strong evidence for evolution comes from the analysis of homologous structures: structures in different species that no longer perform the same task but which share a similar structure. Such is the case of the forelimbs of mammals. The forelimbs of a human, cat, whale, and bat all have strikingly similar bone structures. However, each of these four species' forelimbs performs a different task. The same bones that construct a bat's wings, which are used for flight, also construct a whale's flippers, which are used for swimming. Such a "design" makes little sense if they are unrelated and uniquely constructed for their particular tasks. The theory of evolution explains these homologous structures: all four animals shared a common ancestor, and each has undergone change over many generations. These changes in structure have produced forelimbs adapted for different tasks.
Meiosis creates genetic diversity due to the processes that occur during meiosis. Such as crossing over which creates new gene combinations due homlogous chromosomes swapping or exchanging DNA segments. Independent assortment is also during meiosis and allows the random assortment of homologous chromosomes during metaphase 1.
Independent assortment in sexual reproduction refers to the random distribution of maternal and paternal chromosomes into gametes during meiosis. This results in a variety of genetic combinations in offspring, contributing to genetic diversity. Independent assortment increases the likelihood of producing individuals with unique traits.
The word 'evolution' can refer to both established fact, and to the theoretical model explaining observations in terms of what we know about that fact. Evolution, the fact, refers to the observed phenomenon of the changing of allele frequencies in populations. Evolution, the theory, refers to the theory that evolution (the fact) is a result of reproductive variation (eg. mutations), and is mediated by differential reproductive success (natural selection) to produce new forms. Evolution, the theory, is as close to fact as any science can come. Note that the term 'scientific theory' does not have the same meaning as the popular vernacular 'theory'. In everyday use, the word 'theory' may be used to describe a mere hunch or speculation - whereas in science, a theory is a comprehensive, well-supported explanatory model, consisting of multiply verified hypotheses and independently verifiable facts and laws. Evolutionary theory encompasses the central hypotheses of common descent and natural selection.