Portal:Evolutionary biology

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Evolutionary biology is a subfield of biology that studies the processes that produced the diversity of life on Earth. It encompasses a wide range of topics including the origin of species, the genetic basis of evolution, and the mechanisms of evolutionary change.

History

The field of evolutionary biology has its roots in the work of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace, who independently proposed the theory of natural selection in the mid-19th century. Darwin's seminal work, On the Origin of Species, published in 1859, laid the foundation for modern evolutionary studies.

Key Concepts

Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This concept is central to the theory of evolution.

Genetic Drift

Genetic drift refers to random changes in the frequency of alleles in a population. It is a mechanism of evolution that can lead to significant changes in a population over time.

Speciation

Speciation is the process by which new species arise. It can occur through mechanisms such as allopatric speciation, where populations are geographically isolated, or sympatric speciation, where new species arise within the same geographic area.

Adaptation

Adaptation is the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment. This can occur through changes in physical traits, behaviors, or physiological processes.

Modern Evolutionary Synthesis

The modern evolutionary synthesis is a unification of Darwinian evolution and Mendelian genetics. It provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the genetic basis of evolution and the mechanisms by which it occurs.

Evolutionary Developmental Biology

Evolutionary developmental biology, or evo-devo, is a field that combines aspects of evolutionary biology with developmental biology. It seeks to understand how developmental processes evolve and how they contribute to the diversity of life forms.

Related Pages

• Biology
• Charles Darwin
• Natural selection
• Genetic drift
• Speciation
• Adaptation
• Modern evolutionary synthesis
• Evolutionary developmental biology