![]() |
Tree of Life |
The theory of evolution, in its current form, asserts that the transformation of species (the evolution of life) depends on five factors:
1.
Spontaneous variations in the genome (mutations, genetic
recombination,
and other events that modify the genome).
2.
Spontaneous variations in the environment. This factor is often overlooked, as the
environment is usually quite stable, although sudden changes sometimes occur
that can have huge consequences.
3.
Inheritance,
through which the variations that occur as a result of the first factor are passed on to offspring and are subject to the action of natural selection.
4.
Natural selection, which means that those individuals whose genome is best adapted to the
environment will leave more offspring (at least statistically).
5. The basic laws of the universe, which are currently represented by quantum theory and the theory of relativity.