What is the scientific theory that describes changes in species over time and shared ancestry?

The concept of evolution is fundamental to understanding biological diversity and the relationships among living organisms. Evolution refers to the scientific theory that explains the process through which species change over time due to various factors, including natural selection, genetic drift, and mutations. This theory posits that all living organisms share a common ancestry and that species adapt to their environments over generations, resulting in gradual changes.

This idea was most famously articulated by Charles Darwin, who proposed that natural selection is the mechanism driving these changes. As organisms reproduce, variations occur, and those that are better adapted to their environments are more likely to survive and pass on their traits to the next generation. Over time, these small changes accumulate, leading to the development of new species and the branching of the evolutionary tree.

The other terms, while related to biological processes, do not encompass the broader and more comprehensive explanation of species change and ancestry that evolution provides. Adaptation refers specifically to how organisms adjust to their environments; mutation is a change in genetic material that can lead to changes in traits; and extinction describes the end of a species rather than the process of change over time. Therefore, evolution accurately captures the essence of how species develop and relate to one another through shared ancestry.