evolution

Noun

• (biology) the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms

• a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)
  • the development of his ideas took many years
    
  • the evolution of Greek civilization
    
  • the slow development of her skill as a writer
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  organic evolution , phylogeny , phylogenesis , development
• Antonyms: 
  degeneration , devolution