Question

best way to describe common descent with modification? (Evolution)

Answer 1

Descent with modification can be used to describe changes in a species over generations. For instance, modern day elephants have the traits they have because of descent with modification from their ancestors. Primitive relatives of elephants were as small as a domestic dog at one point. Other points throughout an elephant's evolutionary history had species with long, shaggy hair and extremely long and curly tusks. Through descent with modification, the elephant is now a large animal with smaller tusks and much less hair.