Which process describes how different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify over time?

The process that describes how different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify over time is evolution. This concept is grounded in biological sciences and explains the mechanisms by which species adapt to their environments over generations through natural selection, genetic drift, mutations, and gene flow.

Evolution provides a scientific framework for understanding the diversity of life on Earth, illustrating how common ancestors can give rise to a wide variety of species over long periods. This scientific theory is supported by substantial evidence from fossil records, comparative anatomy, genetics, and biogeography, making it a fundamental principle of biology.

Other options do not pertain to the biological development of living organisms. Creationism refers to the belief that life was created by a divine being in its current form, which contrasts with the scientific understanding of evolutionary processes. Materialism relates to a philosophical standpoint regarding the nature of reality, asserting that only physical matter is real and that consciousness arises from physical processes. Inclusivism is a theological concept that holds that one religious tradition is true but acknowledges that other religious traditions may also contain truth, which does not relate to the biological development of life forms. Thus, evolution unequivocally represents the process of development and diversification of living organisms over time.