Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Evolutionary theories are scientific explanations that describe how species change over time and develop into new species. These theories include concepts like natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation.
This is the process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. It's like nature's version of 'survival of the fittest.'
Genetic drift refers to random changes in gene frequencies within a population due to chance events. It’s like shuffling cards - you never know exactly what order they'll end up in.