What term describes the change in organisms over time, with modern species descended from ancient ones?

What term describes the change in organisms over time, with modern species descended from ancient ones?

• A. Mutation
• B. Evolution
• C. Adaptation
• D. Speciation

Answer: (B)

Evolution describes how organisms change over time, with modern species descended from ancient ones. It captures the idea of descent with modification, where heritable changes accumulate across generations and can reshape lineages over long periods. Mutation provides the genetic variation that fuels this process, but it’s only one part of how evolution unfolds. Adaptation refers to traits that improve fitness, which are outcomes of evolutionary change. Speciation is a major consequence of evolution—the formation of new species—but the broader description of lineages and their long-term change is best captured by evolution.

Evolution describes how organisms change over time, with modern species descended from ancient ones. It captures the idea of descent with modification, where heritable changes accumulate across generations and can reshape lineages over long periods. Mutation provides the genetic variation that fuels this process, but it’s only one part of how evolution unfolds. Adaptation refers to traits that improve fitness, which are outcomes of evolutionary change. Speciation is a major consequence of evolution—the formation of new species—but the broader description of lineages and their long-term change is best captured by evolution.