evolutionary development biology

Evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo-devo," studies how changes in an organism's development process lead to the diversity of life we see today. It explores how genes control the growth and formation of body structures and how small genetic shifts over generations can produce new features or species. By understanding these developmental pathways, evo-devo reveals how evolution shapes form and function, linking genetics, development, and evolution into a unified framework. This field helps explain both the shared origins of life and the unique adaptations that arise over time.