Final answer:
The process of change over time in the characteristics of living things, driven by natural selection and resulting in adaptations, is known as evolution. This process is ongoing and evident in many forms of life, including the development of drug resistance in viruses and changes in finch beak sizes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of change over a long period of time is known as evolution. It is a change in the characteristics of living things over time, driven by a process called natural selection. During natural selection, certain individuals of a species may be better suited to their environment, thereby producing more offspring than those who are less suited. This difference in reproductive success leads to the passage of favorable traits to future generations, gradually changing the species' characteristics.
An example of evolution can be seen in how viruses develop resistance to drugs. With repeated exposure to a drug, those viruses that are naturally resistant survive and continue to multiply, showing that evolution is a continuous and ongoing process. Similarly, Darwin's observation of the beak size of finches changing in response to the types of seeds available demonstrates evolution through adaptation to environmental pressures.
It is also important to note that adaptation is a trait that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in a given environment. As environments change, certain traits may become more or less desirable, causing further evolution in a population.