evolutionarily
By natural selection
Evolutionarily describes something in terms of biological evolution—how species change over generations through natural selection.
An evolutionarily advantageous trait helps organisms survive and reproduce.
The word appears in scientific contexts discussing adaptation, fitness, or the development of characteristics over deep time: Humans are evolutionarily predisposed to fear snakes.
Permanent DNA alteration
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
- heritabilityGenetic share of variation
gene pool · genetic drift · recombination · polymorphism · nucleotide · chromosome · locus · genomic
Good physical shape
- selectionChosen item or items
- survivalRemaining alive against odds
- variationChange from a norm
- nicheRecessed wall space
speciation · convergence · coevolution · divergence · reproductive success · constraint · trade-off · pressure
Differential reproductive success
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- artificial selectionHuman-controlled trait propagation
- survival of the fittestAdaptive advantage perpetuates species
- reproductive successOffspring contribution to future generations
competition · predation · parasitism · mutualism · interspecific · pressure · advantage · disadvantage
Classification by common descent
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- ancestryFamily line of descent
homology · analogy · comparative · basal · derived · sister group · common ancestor · branching
Very old indeed
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- epochDistinct historical period
- eonsImmense spans of time
- millenniaThousand-year periods
deep time · geological · ancestral · primordial · Cambrian · Precambrian · Mesozoic · recent
mutation
Permanent DNA alteration
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- phenotypeObservable characteristics of organism
heritability · gene pool · genetic drift · recombination · polymorphism · nucleotide · chromosome · locus · genomic · inherited
fitness
Good physical shape
niche · speciation · convergence · coevolution · divergence · reproductive success · constraint · trade-off · pressure · advantageous
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- sexual selectionTrait-driven reproductive advantage
- artificial selectionHuman-controlled trait propagation
- survival of the fittestAdaptive advantage perpetuates species
reproductive success · competition · predation · parasitism · mutualism · interspecific · pressure · advantage · disadvantage · costly
cladistics
Classification by common descent
- divergenceSeparation from common origin
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- lineageDescent from progenitors
ancestry · homology · analogy · comparative · basal · derived · sister group · common ancestor · branching · radiation
ancient
Very old indeed
- prehistoricBefore documented civilization
- epochDistinct historical period
- eonsImmense spans of time
millennia · deep time · geological · ancestral · primordial · Cambrian · Precambrian · Mesozoic · recent · derived
evolutionarilyculturally
Pertaining to shared customs
behaviorally · developmentally · environmentally · socially · experientially
evolutionarilyinstantaneously
Occurring without time passing
immediately · suddenly · momentarily · acutely · abruptly
evolutionarilyby design
Done with intent
artificially · deliberately · intentionally · supernaturally · miraculously
evolve, evolution, evolving, evolved, devolve, evolves, devolution, evolutionist, evolutionary