All the modern branches of science are founded on theories. You have to be careful when using the word ‘theory’ because it has two quite different meanings, which are often confused with each other. In ordinary conversation, the word ‘theory’ is used to mean a ‘wild or fanciful speculation, a hunch’, but this is not what the word ‘theory’ means in science. Scientific theories are coherent conceptual frameworks that strive to unify and make sense of the maximum amount of currently available evidence in a given field. Chemistry is founded on the theory that matter is made of atoms. Physics is founded on two theories — quantum mechanics dealing with the very small, and relativity dealing with the very large. Biology is founded on one theory — evolutionary theory, the idea that all organisms are related to one another and change over time.
Evolution
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