Final answer:
The modern synthesis of evolutionary theory explains how natural selection and genetics are interconnected, leading to the gradual evolution of populations and species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The modern synthesis of evolutionary theory is a coherent understanding of the relationship between natural selection and genetics. It describes how evolutionary processes, such as natural selection, can affect a population's genetic makeup and result in the gradual evolution of populations and species. The modern synthesis also connects the microevolutionary changes within a population over time with the macroevolutionary processes that give rise to new species and higher taxonomic groups.