What term refers to the ongoing development process that begins at conception and ends at death?

The term that best describes the ongoing development process that begins at conception and ends at death is development. Development encompasses all the changes that an individual undergoes over their entire lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth. This process highlights the continuous nature of human growth and change from the earliest stages of life through adulthood and into old age.

While growth typically refers to the physical increase in size and mass, aging focuses more on the changes that occur as a result of the passage of time, often highlighting the decline of certain physical or cognitive abilities in later years. Maturation refers specifically to the process of reaching maturity, particularly in a physical or biological sense. However, development as a term captures the full range of changes that happen throughout the lifespan, making it the most appropriate choice for this question.