Evolutionary biology

Evolutionary biology is a subfield of biology that studies the evolutionary processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth. These processes include natural selection, common descent, and speciation.

History

The history of evolutionary biology begins with the work of Charles Darwin. Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species, published in 1859, introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. This work laid the foundation for the study of evolutionary biology.

Concepts

Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population due to the effects those traits have on the survival and reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution.

Common Descent

Common descent is a concept in evolutionary biology that all organisms on Earth are descended from a common ancestor or ancestral gene pool.

Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. It is a central concept of evolutionary biology.

Applications

Evolutionary biology has applications in fields such as medicine, psychology, and conservation biology. For example, understanding the principles of evolution can help scientists predict the spread of diseases, develop new medicines, and protect endangered species.

See also

• Genetics
• Paleontology
• Population genetics
• Evolutionary developmental biology