Final answer:
Evolution is a change in the characteristics of living things over time. It occurs through natural selection, where advantageous traits are passed to the next generation, resulting in major changes in living things. This theory explains how modern living things have descended from ancient life forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory of evolution by natural selection is a scientific theory that explains how living things change over time. Evolution occurs by a process called natural selection, where some living things produce more offspring than others, passing advantageous traits to the next generation. This leads to major changes in the characteristics of living things over many generations. Evolution also explains how modern living things have descended from ancient life forms that no longer exist on Earth.