1. Descended from a common ancestor:
This is the most common meaning in evolutionary biology. It refers to the idea that all living organisms on Earth share a common ancestor, and that all species have evolved over time from this ancestor. This concept is often expressed using the phrase "descent with modification," which means that organisms inherit traits from their ancestors, but these traits can be modified over generations through natural selection.
Example: "Humans are descended from primates" means that humans and primates share a common ancestor, and that humans have evolved from this ancestor over millions of years.
2. Descended to a lower level:
This meaning is less common, but it can sometimes be used to describe the movement of something from a higher to a lower level. For example, in physics, a "descending spiral" might refer to an object moving in a spiral path that is getting closer to the ground.
Example: "The spacecraft descended towards the planet's surface."
It's important to consider the context to understand which meaning of "descended" is being used.
If you're unsure, you can always ask for clarification.
