The science of evolutionary biology is the study of the history of life and the processes that lead to its unity and diversity.
Evolution occupies a central position in the biological sciences.
Although sometimes controversial outside of scientific disciplines, evolution has both been fully documented by scientific research and is fundamentally important for understanding biological systems, including ourselves. Academic and research institutions in the United States and elsewhere have acknowledged the importance of this field by establishing departments that focus on evolutionary biology. The importance of evolutionary biology is reflected in the rapid growth of journals related to evolution and in the increasing application of evolutionary principles in areas such as human health, agriculture, environmental remediation, behavior, and other aspects of human culture. Public understanding of evolutionary biology has grown through the efforts of museums, zoological parks, and botanical gardens, as well as a profusion of popular books and articles. Fueled by accelerating advances in molecular techniques, information processing, and other technological innovations, the biological sciences are on a steeper learning curve than ever before, and biological knowledge in the next few decades will increasingly affect our lives.