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Biological theory that animals and plants have their origin in other types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations.
It is one of the keystones of modern biological theory. In 1858 Alfred Russel Wallace published a paper on evolution that revolutionized all later biological study. The heart of Darwinian evolution is the mechanism of natural selection . Surviving individuals, who vary (see variation ) in some way that enables them to live longer and reproduce, pass on their advantage to succeeding generations. In 1937 Theodosius Dobzhansky applied Mendelian genetics (see Gregor Mendel ) to Darwinian theory, contributing to the new understanding of evolution as the cumulative action of natural selection on small genetic variations in whole populations. Part of the proof of evolution is in the fossil record, which shows a succession of gradually changing forms leading up to those known today. Structural similarities and similarities in embryonic development among living forms also point to common ancestry. Molecular biology (especially the study of genes and proteins) provides the most detailed evidence of evolutionary change. Though the theory of evolution is accepted by nearly the entire scientific community, it has sparked much controversy from Darwin's time to the present; most objections have come from religious leaders and thinkers (see creation science ). See also Hugo de Vries , Ernst Haeckel , human evolution , Ernst Mayr , {{link=parallel evolution">parallel evolution , phylogeny , sociocultural evolution , speciation .
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[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
human evolution
parallel evolution
sociocultural evolution