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All individuals have hereditary material in the form of [[gene]]s received from their parents, which they pass on to any offspring. Among offspring there are variations of genes due to the introduction of new genes via random changes called mutations or via reshuffling of existing genes during [[sexual reproduction]].<ref name="Gould">{{harvnb|Gould|2002|}}</ref><ref name="Gregory09">{{cite journal |last=Gregory |first=T. Ryan |author-link=T. Ryan Gregory |date=June 2009 |title=Understanding Natural Selection: Essential Concepts and Common Misconceptions |journal=Evolution: Education and Outreach |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=156–175 |doi=10.1007/s12052-009-0128-1|doi-access=free }}</ref> The offspring differs from the parent in minor random ways. If those differences are helpful, the offspring is more likely to survive and reproduce. This means that more offspring in the next generation will have that helpful difference and individuals will not have equal chances of [[reproduction|reproductive]] success. In this way, traits that result in organisms being better [[adaptation|adapted]] to their living conditions become more common in descendant populations.<ref name="Gould" /><ref name="Gregory09" /> These differences accumulate resulting in changes within the population. This process is responsible for the many diverse life forms in the world.
The modern understanding of evolution began with the 1859 publication of [[Charles Darwin]]'s ''[[On the Origin of Species]]''. In addition, [[Gregor Mendel]]'s work with plants, between 1856 and 1863, helped to explain the hereditary patterns of [[genetics]].<ref name="gegme">{{cite web |url=http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/Gregor_Mendel.php |title=Gregor Mendel (1822–1884) |last=Rhee |first=Seung Yon |website=Access Excellence |publisher=National Health Museum |___location=Atlanta, GA |access-date=2015-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227004122/http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/Gregor_Mendel.php |archive-date=2014-12-27}}</ref> Fossil discoveries in [[palaeontology]], advances in [[population genetics]] and a global network of scientific research have provided further details into the mechanisms of evolution. Scientists now have a good understanding of the origin of new species ([[speciation]]) and have observed the speciation process in the laboratory and in the wild. Evolution is the principal [[scientific theory]] that [[biologist]]s use to understand life and is used in many disciplines, including [[medicine]], [[psychology]], [[conservation biology]], [[anthropology]], [[Forensic science|forensics]], [[agriculture]] and other [[Sociocultural evolution|social-cultural]] applications.
== Simple overview ==
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