Mutation of species refers to the process where there is a change in the genetic makeup of a population leading to a new characteristic or trait. This process results in the evolution of a new species. There are several synonyms that can be used for this term including genetic variation, evolutionary change, adaptation, and genetic diversity. Genetic variation refers to the differences in genes between individuals within a population while evolutionary change refers to the gradual change in the genetic makeup of a population over time. Adaptation is the process of organisms evolving to better suit their environment while genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a population. All of these words describe the same process of species evolving and adapting to their environment over time.