evolutionary

Everyday

1. Evolutionary means to do with evolution, the very slow change of living things over many generations, as scientists explain it. tree →
2. Evolutionary also means changing slowly and step by step, not suddenly, as in an evolutionary change in design. tree →

In the lessons

Science lessons on evolution and inheritance, fossils, adaptation, Charles Darwin and Mary Anning. Technology: evolutionary improvements. Phrases: evolutionary tree, evolutionary history, evolutionary change.

Examples

• Birds and dinosaurs share an evolutionary history. tree →
• The evolutionary tree shows how animals are related. tree →
• Darwin's work helped explain evolutionary change. tree →
• Fossils give clues about evolutionary steps. tree →
• The new phone is an evolutionary change, not a revolution. tree →
• Camouflage gives animals an evolutionary advantage. tree →

Note

Evolution happens to populations over very long times, not to one animal in its life. Evolutionary (slow, step by step) vs revolutionary (sudden, huge change). Some people hold religious views on how life began; in science lessons evolution is the accepted scientific explanation.