In science, the term ‘evolution’ usually refers to evolution here refers to the biological theory of evolution produced by Darwin to illustrate the origin and mechanism of the existence of organisms.
However, there are many definitions and categories of evolution in this regard, such as in the famous dictionaries of:
Macmillan- “The scientific theory according to which types of plants and animals change gradually over long periods of time through a process known as natural selection to become more appropriate for their environment”
American Heritage- “Change in the genetic composition of a population during successive generations, often resulting in the development of new species. The mechanisms of evolution include natural selection acting on the genetic variation among individuals, mutation, migration, and genetic drift.”
The Oxford Dictionary mentioned the origin of the term evolution as: “Early 17th century: from Latin evolutio(n-) ‘unrolling’, from the verb evolvere. Early senses related to movement, first recorded in describing a ‘wheeling’ maneuver in the realignment of troops or ships. Current senses stem from a notion of ‘opening out’, giving rise to the sense ‘development’.” Oxford further defined it as: “The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.”
Merriam-Webster- “Descent with modification from preexisting species: cumulative inherited change in a population of organisms through time leading to the appearance of new forms: the process by which new species or populations of living things develop from preexisting forms through successive generations.”
