Gradualism
The theory that changes in life often happen in small increments over long periods of time
Evolution
The process in which inherited traits within a population change over time until a new species arises
Inherited variation
the differences in the traits that are passed down to organisms in the same species
species
a group of organisms that are similar and can produce fertile offspring
speciation
the formation of a new and distinct species
extinction
when a species is no longer in existence
punctuated equilibrium
a theory that species evolve in spurts, or sudden bursts of rapid change, instead of gradually over time