Final answer:
Species/traits/characteristics change over time through the process of evolution, driven by mechanisms such as genetic mutations, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
How do species/traits/characteristics change over time?
In biology, species/traits/characteristics change over time through a process called evolution. Evolution is driven by several mechanisms including genetic mutations, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Genetic mutations introduce variation in a population, which can lead to the development of new traits. Natural selection then acts on these variations, favoring traits that increase an organism's fitness and survival.
Over time, these favored traits become more prevalent in the population, while less advantageous traits are selected against and may disappear. This gradual change in the inherited characteristics of a species over generations is how species evolve and adapt to their changing environments.
Learn more about Species evolution