Evolution

The unscrambled word is "evolution."

Because it is an internally consistent explanation of a mechanism of evolution that is supported by many lines of converging evidence, that has been repeatedly tested and is capable of making testable predictions.

Pretty much the scientific definition of theory.

Evolution is quite easy in a lab. All you need is some bacteria and something that those bacteria are killed by. Add a small amount of each to a clean slide, and you can watch as the population declines - as weaker members die - before growing again - as the stronger ones reproduce.

Now add more of the toxic chemical, and repeat the experiment. Keep going, and eventually you get a population that not only survives in the toxin, but thrives in it.

Gradual changes in species over time is known as evolution. This is a process where populations of organisms change over generations as a result of genetic variation, natural selection, and adaptations to their environment. Over time, these changes can lead to the formation of new species.

In every organism, there are differences between individuals. For example, hair color in humans. Bacteria and viruses, being so small, mutate much quicker than humans. One of the individual traits of a virus or bacteria can be resistance to a drug or antibiotic. So as the drug is used, the organisms without the resistance die off while the resistant individuals live. The resistant individuals reproduce, and pass on this resistance to their offspring. Thus, the population increases once again, but this time, all the organisms have the resistance. This is shown clearly with the antibiotics we use, which only stay effective for fighting diseases for 20 to 60 years. After this time, most of the bacteria has mutated to be resistant to the antibiotic, and so will no longer be killed by it.

One new line of evidence supporting evolution that scientists learned after Darwin's book was published is the discovery of DNA and the understanding of how genetic information is passed down from one generation to the next. DNA sequencing has provided clear evidence of the relatedness of different species and how they have evolved over time.

All living things:

1) Are made up of cells

2) Reacts to stimuli

3) Maintains homeostasis (internal environment) and obtain/produce energy

4) Have the ability to reproduce

5) Are able to grow

5) Is able to adapt to environment (evolve over generations)

An evolutionary biologist studies the processes by which species change over time through genetic mutations, natural selection, and other mechanisms of evolution. They may conduct research to understand patterns of biodiversity, speciation, and adaptation in organisms. Their work helps shed light on how life has evolved and diversified on Earth.

A chart that illustrates a series of species with their common ancestor is called a phylogenetic tree or phylogeny. These trees show the evolutionary relationships and the common ancestry among different organisms.

Alfred Russel Wallace independently developed the theory of evolution by natural selection, which was very similar to Charles Darwin's ideas. Wallace and Darwin jointly published a scientific paper on the subject in 1858.

The scientific method also involves forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing data to draw conclusions. This process allows scientists to systematically investigate natural phenomena and test their theories.

Evolution is the change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. This change occurs due to genetic variation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.

Crossing-over during meiosis leads to genetic variation by shuffling alleles between homologous chromosomes. This genetic variability allows for offspring to inherit different combinations of genes from their parents, increasing the potential for advantageous traits to be selected for through natural selection.

The continents of the earth are constantly drifting, sometimes joining up against other land masses and forming supercontinents, and sometimes breaking up. Sometime before 250 million years ago, a single continent, now known as Pangea, incorporated all the major land masses of the earth.

Evolution results as living things respond to environmental changes, and one of the aspects of the environment was the super-continent of Pangea. Successful life forms could migrate throughout the entire land area of the world, dominating the less successful and sometimes driving them to extinction. When Pangea began to break up, each separate land mass held species that had evolved on Pangea but now began to evolve in isolation, eventually creating new classes of life forms distinct from those on the other land mass.

Some such experiments have been performed, mostly to verify that it was in fact possible as predicted by the modern evolutionary synthesis. The basic method of achieving the drift is to alter the factors affecting the environment of different populations and seeing what happens, then comparing the outcomes.

A temporary change in climate that does not lead to long-term isolation of populations would likely not result in the formation of new species. For new species to form, isolated populations need to evolve independently over time, leading to genetic differences that cannot be reversed upon rejoining.

Postzygotic barriers, such as hybrid inviability and hybrid sterility, can lead to the improper development of hybrids and prevent them from establishing themselves in nature. These barriers occur after hybridization and can hinder the survival and reproduction of hybrid offspring.

The geographical distribution of closely related species in different regions, such as marsupials in Australia and placental mammals in other parts of the world, supports the theory of common descent. This distribution suggests that these species evolved from a common ancestor and diverged as they adapted to different environments. Additionally, the similarities in species found on islands compared to nearby mainland regions also provide evidence for common descent through adaptive radiation.

Scientists think that archaea may be the group of prokaryotes that are most closely related to the ancestors of eukaryotes. This is based on genetic and biochemical similarities between archaea and eukaryotes, as well as the shared presence of certain cellular structures and processes.

Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin independently developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. Wallace's paper on the subject, titled "On the Tendency of Varieties to Depart Indefinitely from the Original Type," was presented jointly with Darwin's work to the Linnean Society in 1858. Darwin later expanded on his ideas in the book "On the Origin of Species."

This pattern is known as punctuated equilibrium, which proposes that species remain relatively unchanged for long periods, punctuated by short bursts of rapid evolution. It suggests that evolution occurs in sporadic bursts of speciation rather than constant gradual change.

Saltationism posits extreme mutational jumps instead of the incremental process of natural selection. " Hopeful monsters from the satanic world of hell", so to speak. These people thought evolution proceeded by mutation more than selection, but it is an idea who's time has passed. By looking back at Ancient Greek Hieroglyphics, this natural selection stated in Saltationism definitely proves to be true. Although, present-day scientists have also confirmed the facts about Saltationism.

Some viruses are very advanced in their evolution, compared to what they started as. However, in absolute terms and compared to most other biological entities, viruses are barely evolved at all; they are in fact not considered life at all, and are probably remnanats of the earliest complicated organic forms.

Speciation is the process by which a new species arises. This can occur through various mechanisms such as geographic isolation, where populations become separated and diverge genetically, leading to reproductive isolation. Over time, these populations accumulate enough differences that they can no longer interbreed, resulting in the formation of two distinct species.