Imagine a picture of your great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents. They look alike, but each generation is different.
This is how evolution works: living things change over time.
Over many years, these changes create different kinds of life on Earth.
Many people think evolution goes one way—to “better” or “higher” living things. For example, some old pictures show humans evolving from ape-like creatures to modern humans.
But evolution does not have a final goal. There is no finish line. Living things change because of natural selection or random changes.
In a study, we looked at ferns, which are very old plants. We found that ferns can change in different ways. Some ferns became less specialized over time.
Ferns can still use basic or more complex ways to reproduce. This shows that evolution is not always about moving forward. It can go in circles, too.
Our study teaches us that evolution is not a straight line. It has many paths and can change in many ways.
Vocabulary List:
Evolution /ˌɛv.əˈluː.ʃən/ (noun): The process by which living organisms change over generations.
Specialized /ˈspɛʃ.ə.laɪzd/ (adjective): Designed or adapted for a specific purpose.
Natural Selection /ˈnæʧ.ɚ.əl sɪˈlɛk.ʃən/ (noun): The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
Complex /ˈkɒmplɛks/ (adjective): Consisting of many different and connected parts.
Study /ˈstʌdi/ (noun): The devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge on a subject.
Change /tʃeɪndʒ/ (verb): To make or become different.
