The theory of evolution is one of the basic foundations of modern science. It shows that plants and animals can change over time. The changes are usually small and difficult to detect, but they add up over many generations and can result in new species. Charles Darwin, the father of evolutionary biology, wasn_t the first person to come up with the idea of evolution. But he was the first to convincingly explain how life evolved on this planet. As a young man, he went on an amazing voyage around the world, and he discovered variations within species. This four-year trip aboard the Beagle led to his life_s work.