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Evolution is any process of growth or development that entails change. The word stems from the Latin evolutio meaning "unfolding" and before the late 19th century was confined to referring to goal-directed, pre-programmed processes such as embryological development. A pre-programmed task, as in a military maneuver, using this definition, may be termed an "evolution." One can also speak of stellar evolution, chemical evolution, cultural evolution, spiritual evolution or the evolution of an idea. Other kinds of evolution include evolutionary algorithms (which include genetic algorithms) which attempt to mimic processes similar to biological evolution in a computer program, most frequently as an optimization technique and as an experimental framework for the computational modelling of evolution.Modern usage
In the 19th century the word "evolution" was identified with improvement. It was clear to European thinkers at that time – in the wake of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution – that human societies evolved; many people have claimed the same about the evolution of biological species. In the 20th century, most social scientists came to reject the strict identification of social and cultural change with improvement (see also social evolution and cultural evolution); most interpretations of Darwin's account of evolution similarly argue against identifying biological changes with improvement.
Since the 19th century "evolution" is generally used in reference to biologicalBiology studies the variety of life clockwise from top-left E. coli tree fern, gazelle, Goliath beetle Biology is the science of life. It is concerned with the characteristics and behaviors of organisms, how species and individuals come into existence, an evolution, the development of the different varieties of living things over generations. Often it is shorthand for the modern theory of evolution of speciesThis article discusses biological species. Also see combinatorial species for the mathematical meaning of the term. Species is also a movie by Roger Donaldson. In English "species" is both singular and plural. The word " specie" is unrelated and is used t based upon Darwin's idea of natural selectionAlternative meaning Natural Selection (computer game . Natural selection is the primary mechanism within the scientific theory of evolution, i. it alters the frequency of alleles within a population. It was first proposed as the main mechanism of evolutio.
Thus, evolution may be:
- A process of growth, change, or development in several scienceFor the scientific journal named Science see Science (journal). Science is both a process of gaining knowledge, and the organized body of knowledge gained by this process. The scientific process is the systematic acquisition of new knowledge about a systes, including:
- In biologyBiology studies the variety of life clockwise from top-left E. coli tree fern, gazelle, Goliath beetle Biology is the science of life. It is concerned with the characteristics and behaviors of organisms, how species and individuals come into existence, an:
- in chemistry:
- In cosmology:
- In sociology:
- In computer science and mathematics
- The advocacy of evolution for the origins of life is often called evolutionism, especially by opponents.
Disambiguation
