Evolution Explained For Kids – Mutation And Natural Selection

[This is the second article where I explain evolution in what I hope are kid-friendly terms. Again, my intended audience in this case isn't actually kids, it is parents trying to find ways to communicate with their kids. To see other entries, go here.]

You may have heard the word mutant before, probably in a comic book or in a movie, but did you know that you are a mutant? No, you can’t fly or shoot fireballs, but every one of us is the product of mutations. Life started with really simple things, like amoebas that are made up of only one cell. Everything alive today from your parents to penguins to potatoes started out just that way. But parents are not much like penguins, and even less like potatoes (except couch potatoes). This is because of things like mutation and natural selection.

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Evolution Explained For Kids – DNA And Traits

[I regularly notice that one of the top search hits to this site is some variation on the theme of "evolution for kids". It just makes sense that I take a few moments and write a post or two on the topic and hopefully help out those parents who are searching for this information. My intended audience in this case isn't actually kids, it is parents trying to find ways to communicate with their kids. Hope it comes in handy! To see other entries, go here.]

Your body is made up of cells. They are really small, and each one contains a lot of stuff. One of the things they contain is called DNA, and that’s a really important thing. DNA is like an instruction manual for building you, and it gets put together when your mom and dad made you.

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