| evolution | 1. An unrolling. 2. A process of development in which an organ or organism becomes more and more complex by the differentiation of its parts, a continuous and progressive change according to certain laws and by means of resident forces. Origin: L. Evolutio (18 Nov 1997) |
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| evolution, biologic | A.G. Motulsky in 1968 contrasted biologic evolution with cultural evolution, pointing out that biologic evolution is mediated by genes, shows a slow rate of change, employs random variation (mutations) and selection as agents of change, new variants are often harmful, these new variants are transmitted from parents to offspring, the mode of transmission is simple, complexity is achieved by the rare formation of new genes by chromosome duplication, biologic evolution occurs with all forms of life, and the biology of humans requires cultural evolution. See Evolution, cultural. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolution, chemical | Chemical and physical transformation of the biogenic elements from their nucleosynthesis in stars to their incorporation and subsequent modification in planetary bodies and terrestrial biochemistry. It includes the mechanism of incorporation of biogenic elements into complex molecules and molecular systems, leading up to the origin of life. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolution, cultural | By contrast with biologic evolution, A.G. Motulsky in 1968 pointed out that social evolution is mediated by ideas, shows a rapid (exponential) rate of change, is usually purposeful, often beneficial, is widely disseminated by diverse means, is frequently transmitted in complex ways, further complexity comes from the frequent formation of new ideas and new technologies. Cultural evolution is unique to humans among all forms of life. Human culture required biologic evolution to achieve the human brain. See Evolution, social. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolution, molecular | Evolution at the molecular level of DNA sequences and proteins. (rieger et al., glossary of genetics: classical and molecular, 5th ed) (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolution, planetary | Creation and development of bodies within solar systems, includes study of early planetary geology. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolutionarily conserved | See conserved sequence. (05 Mar 2000) |
| evolutionarily conserved gene | A gene that has remained essentially unchanged throughout evolution. Conservation of a gene indicates that it is unique and essential. There is not an extra copy of that gene with which evolution can tinker. And changes in the gene are likely to be lethal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolutionarily conserved sequence | A base sequence in a DNA molecule (or an amino acid sequence in a protein) that has remained essentially unchanged throughout evolution. (12 Dec 1998) |
| evolutionary computation | <genetics> Evolutionary computation, genetic algorithms, and genetic programming are all computer disciplines involved with modeling genetic inheritance and/or biological evolution in computers. (09 Oct 1997) |
| evolutionary distance | <botany> In phylogenetic trees, the sum of the physical distance on a tree separating organisms, this distance is inversely proportional to evolutionary relatedness. (09 Oct 1997) |
| evolutionary fitness | The probability that the line of descent from an individual with a specific trait will not eventually die out. (05 Mar 2000) |
| evolutionist | 1. One skilled in evolutions. 2. One who holds the doctrine of evolution, either in biology or in metaphysics. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |