Evolution: Body Builders
Follow the surprising evolutionary journey that led to the majestic elephant.
Earth teems with life in every imaginable form—creatures that walk, swim, slither, and fly. Some grow to astonishing size, like the elephant, while others boast extravagant adaptations, like the hummingbird’s long beak. How did evolution craft such a dazzling variety of body plans? To find the answer, trace life back to its ultimate ancestor, LUCA, and follow the innovations that shaped complexity. See how single cells learned to cooperate, forming the first multicellular animals, and how evolving better ways to capture oxygen—first with gills, then lungs—allowed animals to grow larger and stronger. Explore why the four-limbed blueprint became nature’s most versatile design. And uncover the evolutionary twists that gave rise to peculiar yet defining features—like the elephant’s trunk—that make Earth’s living tapestry so remarkable. (Premiering October 28 at 9 pm on PBS)
