The useful idea
- Change over generations
Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
- Variation is filtered
The processes that change DNA in a population include natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow.
- Life diversifies
The process of evolution has given rise to biodiversity at every level of biological organisation.
Why this matters
Look for Evolution the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Try this
Look for Evolution the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Evolution?
- Change over generations — correct
- Variation is filtered
- Life diversifies
Evolution is the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.