Evolution

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'''Evolution''' generally refers to any process of gradual or incremental change over time. 
In the context of biology and life science, [[Biological Evolution|biological evolution]] is one of the most basic laws which 
describes a change in the genetic makeup of a population as a result of natural selection. 
It is the process by which all forms of plant and animal life change slowly over time because 
of slight variations in the genes that one generation passes down to the next.

== Principles == 

Laws (esp. the differential equations from physics) describe the time-evolution of nature: the gradual or incremental change over time. Evolution itself is therefore the most general law, because it can also be applied to cosmic, economic, biological and social systems. In fact, evolution itself is the only thing in the last 14,6 billion years since the universe exist which has not changed significantly.

Evolution can occur in any changing system, as long as there is a [[code]] and the following three conditions are satisfied: (1) variation among individuals in some property or trait (2) inheritance from parents to their offspring of these traits (3) competition between individuals, selection of the individuals where the traits have the best effect on fitness and survival ability.

Thus the three major principles of evolution are

# Variation + Recombination
# Replication + Inheritance
# Selection + Survival of the Fittest

Evolution requires 1.) a '''source of variation''' and diversity in form of recombination or mutation 2.) a '''source of continuity''' in form of replication or reproduction, and 3.) a '''source of purpose''' or function through selective pressure in form of natural selection, adaptation or "survival of the fittest". Natural selection results in a process of [[Adaptation|adaptation]]. [[Speciation]] is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise.

== Application ==

Biologically inspired [[Evolutionary Algorithm]]s are a popular approach to optimize structures and to search for solutions of difficult combinatorial problems. Peter J. Bentley from the University College, London, has even proposed "software genes" to create useful evolving and developing software, see his New Scientist article [http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/P.Bentley/seedsarticle.html The Garden where perfect software grows].

== Resources ==

Charles Darwin - ''On the Origin of Species''

*[http://pages.britishlibrary.net/charles.darwin/texts/origin1859/origin_fm.html Origin of Species, 1st edn. (1859)] (British Library)
*[http://pages.britishlibrary.net/charles.darwin/texts/origin_6th/origin6th_fm.html Origin of Species, 6th edn. (1872)] (British Library)
*[http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/pdf/Origin_of_Species.pdf Full text in pdf format]
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1228 Origin of Species, 1st Edition] (Project Gutenberg)
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2009 Origin of Species, 6th Edition] (Project Gutenberg)
*[http://www.bartleby.com/11/  Origin of Species] (Vol. XI. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001)

[[Category:Basic Principles]] [[Category:Evolutionary Principles]] [[Category:Evolutionary Systems]]