Definition

1. Noun:
   • (Biology) The process of cumulative change in the heritable characteristics of a population of organisms over successive generations. This is the scientific term for the theory that all living things have developed from earlier forms through natural selection and genetic variation.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The study of organic evolution explains the diversity of life on Earth.
  • Darwin's theory of organic evolution by natural selection is a cornerstone of modern biology.
  • Evidence for organic evolution comes from fossils, comparative anatomy, and molecular biology.

Advanced Usage

• "The mechanisms of organic evolution": This phrase refers to the processes that drive evolutionary change, such as mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection.
  • Modern synthesis combines genetics with the principles of organic evolution to explain the mechanisms of change.

Variants and Related Words

• Evolution (n): The more common, general term for the same process. "Organic evolution" is a more specific biological term.
  • The evolution of flight in birds is a fascinating subject.
• Biological evolution (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "organic evolution."
• Phylogeny (n): The evolutionary history and relationships of a species or group of species, which is a result of organic evolution.
• Natural selection (n): A primary mechanism of organic evolution.

Synonyms

• Biological evolution
• Descent with modification
• Phylogenesis

Related Phrases

• Theory of evolution: The scientific theory explaining the process of organic evolution.
  • The theory of evolution provides a unifying framework for biology.
• Patterns of evolution: Refers to the observable results of organic evolution, such as adaptive radiation or convergent evolution.
  • The fossil record shows clear patterns of evolution over geological time.

Noun

1. (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms