A study from the University of Zurich has revealed that the complex interplay between plants and insects can significantly accelerate plant evolution. Insects and plants are crucial components of terrestrial biocommunities, performing diverse interactions and guiding the evolution and defenses of plants for millennia. A five-year study by Cornell University focuses on the critical role insects can play in plant evolution and how quickly it can occur.
The study highlights the molecular mechanisms, genetic variation, and ecological consequences of plant-insect interactions, including plant defense and insect resistance. Plants pollinated by insects and have to defend themselves against herbivores have evolved to be better adapted to different types of soil. The combination of pollination and herbivory creates a powerful evolutionary cocktail, driving plants to evolve more rapidly. Once on the plant, insect-associated molecules may trigger or suppress defense depending on whether the plant or the insect is ahead in evolutionary terms.
Plants constantly cope with insect herbivory, which is why flowering plants were decisive for the diversification of insects and explain, at least in part, their current richness. The interaction between plants and insects also has a considerable influence on ecology, as plants constantly cope with insect herbivory.
In conclusion, the complex relationship between plants and insects has significantly shaped the diversity and functionality of ecosystems worldwide. Recent research from the University of Zurich and the University of Toronto Mississauga has further highlighted the importance of understanding these interactions for future research.
| Article | Description | Site |
|---|---|---|
| Plant-insect interactions: an evolutionary arms race … | by MO Mello · 2002 · Cited by 380 — Plants developed different mechanisms to reduce insect attack, including specific responses that activate different metabolic pathways which considerably alter … | scielo.br |
| The evolution of plant-insect mutualisms | by JL Bronstein · 2006 · Cited by 652 — Here we review evolutionary features of three prominent insect-plant mutualisms: pollination, protection and seed dispersal. | pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |
| The evolution of plant–insect mutualisms – Bronstein – 2006 | by JL Bronstein · 2006 · Cited by 652 — Here we review evolutionary features of three prominent insect–plant mutualisms: pollination, protection and seed dispersal. | nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com |
📹 How Plants Became Meat Eaters
Carnivorous plants capture the imagination because they are so unlike any other plant with their elaborate and sometimes …
How Do Plants Help Insects?
Small insects prefer small flowers, as these plants offer pollen and nectar to entice them for pollination. This mutualistic relationship benefits both flowering plants and insects; pollinators like honey bees play a crucial role in plant reproduction while enhancing genetic diversity in plant populations. When insects collect pollen from one flower and transfer it to another, they facilitate the process of pollination, which is essential for producing new flowers.
Pollen consists of various proteins, and insects help create vital seeds, fruits, and vegetables through this process. Insects are also important decomposers of organic matter and act as keystone species, contributing significantly to ecosystems.
Researchers at Cornell are utilizing beneficial insects to improve crop yields, manage invasive plants, and control agricultural pests, as approximately three-fourths of flowering plants and 35% of native bee species actively contribute to these outcomes. Moths, similar to people avoiding a crying baby, have preferences that affect their interactions with stressed plants. Nectar, a sugary liquid that bees convert into honey, serves as both energy food for insects and a reward from flowers.
By planting a variety of insect-friendly flora, gardeners can attract beneficial insects that control pest populations while enhancing their gardens’ biodiversity, ultimately supporting the health of their landscapes.
What Is The Relationship Between Plants And Insects?
Mutualism describes relationships that benefit both organisms involved, with a notable example being the interactions between plants and insects. Three primary types of plant-insect mutualistic relationships exist: protection, pollination, and seed dispersal. These interactions significantly contribute to terrestrial biocommunities and include diverse patterns of insect responsibility and modes of pollination. Insect-plant interactions are multifaceted, encompassing various aspects such as insect-microbe interactions, and differentiation into antagonism and mutualism.
Insect-plant coevolution is a key process that shapes ecosystem diversity and functionality globally. Research focuses on host-plant resistance, pest management, and the joint evolution of plants and phytophagous insects. While insects may consume various parts of plants, they also engage in mutualistic relationships whereby they provide essential services, such as pollination, benefiting both parties.
The evolutionary dynamics between plants and insects often illustrate asymmetrical relationships; plants evolve defense mechanisms to evade herbivory while insects develop means to locate and exploit hosts. A prominent mutualistic example is the reliance of pollinating insects on nectar and pollen, which, in turn, ensures the cross-fertilization of flowering plants. The intricate relationships, including shelter and nutrition exchange, form essential components of ecosystems, demonstrating the vital role of insects and plants in maintaining biodiversity and ecological health. Key studies and literature have provided insights into these complex interactions and their evolutionary fundamentals.
What Plants Attract Beneficial Insects?
To create an inviting garden for beneficial insects, consider planting a variety of flowering plants and herbs. Examples include sunflowers (especially dwarf varieties like 'Sunspot'), calendula, cosmos, dill, basil, and borage, which can all attract helpful insects. Coreopsis, asters, and thyme are also suitable options for planting this month. Learning about 31 flowering plants that entice pollinators like bees and butterflies, as well as insects such as lacewings and ladybugs, is essential for fostering a thriving garden ecosystem.
Dill (Anethum graveolens), with its small yellow flowers, is a great addition, as are other herbs known for attracting beneficial insects. Explore which plants best support various beneficial insects for natural pest management, promoting a habitat rich in pollinator activity. Native plants provide essential food and shelter, helping to rewild your garden.
Consider trees, shrubs, and a mix of perennial and annual flowers to support a diverse range of beneficials. Notable plants include lavender, fuschia, marjoram, catmint, and coneflower species. Incorporating insectary plants such as buckwheat, mint, echinacea, and sweet alyssum can further enhance the garden’s appeal, while housing options like a Ladybug House can make these insects feel at home.
Did Insects Evolve From Plants?
The class of insects is estimated to have originated on Earth approximately 480 million years ago during the Ordovician period, coinciding with the appearance of terrestrial plants. Research indicates that insects evolved from a group of crustaceans and that the earliest known insects date back around 400 million years. A significant finding from recent studies suggests that insects developed wings to adapt to the increasing height of land plants.
Initially, insects thrived in marine or coastal habitats before transitioning to land, paralleling the emergence of land plants. The evolution of flowering plants in the Cretaceous period drastically transformed ecosystems, highlighting the intertwined evolutionary paths of insects and plants. Insect-plant coevolution has played a crucial role in shaping global biodiversity and ecosystem functionality. Between 2010 and recent findings, research has synthesized that insects and plants co-influenced the earliest terrestrial ecosystems, with wings developing around 400 million years ago.
Together, insects and plants evolved structural adaptations, such as insects developing a skeletal framework and plants creating toughened cell walls and woody tissues. Additionally, insects established early relationships with plants, including pollination, predating the angiosperms. This collaboration has fostered complex ecological interactions, emphasizing the essential role insects played in shaping Earth’s biodiverse landscapes from their inception alongside early land plants.
What Is The Evolution Of Insects?
Insect evolution began approximately 450 million years ago, predating the dinosaurs, and is marked by significant events in animal history, with a notable connection to the evolution of flowering plants. Insects, being the most diverse group of organisms on Earth, have adapted to feed on floral structures, with around 20% relying on flowers, nectar, or pollen. This narrative outlines the integrated framework of insect evolution, highlighting the origins of their extraordinary diversity, body plans, and ecological roles. Insects represent a major class within the arthropod subphylum Hexapoda, with the Entognatha as a related group.
The evolutionary journey of insects includes the development of metamorphosis and flight, crucial for their dominance on terrestrial landscapes. The earliest insect fossils date back to about 400 million years ago, yet genetic studies suggest they might have emerged even earlier. The flight ability in insects is notably ancient, occurring around 400 million years ago, allowing them to explore new habitats.
While debates persist regarding the specifics of their evolutionary change, the study offers insights into their derivation from crustacean relatives. Most modern insect species appeared around 345 million years ago, showcasing a remarkable radiation of life forms. This book presents a comprehensive history of insects, detailing their living diversity, evolutionary relationships, and fossil record over 400 million years. The progress in insect evolution is marked by the development of wings, enabling dispersal and occupation of diverse ecological niches.
How Did Plants Evolve To Eat Bugs?
Researchers have found that the evolution of carnivory in plants involved a specific adaptation of roots and leaves to becoming trap-specific. In a significant shift, genes that initially allowed plants to absorb soil nutrients were repurposed to produce digestive enzymes for processing prey. The study concluded that carnivory originated once in the ancestral lineage of three related species and independently in the pitcher plant. This research, which marks a breakthrough after over 140 years since Darwin's "Insectivorous Plants," highlights key genomic changes enabling certain plants to adopt a carnivorous diet.
The fossil record lacks evidence of early insect-eating plants, yet it indicates multiple lineages of flowering plants evolved mechanisms to capture insects. Additionally, non-carnivorous plants show a reactive increase in repair and defense hormones when attacked by insects. In the examined Venus flytrap, prey interaction triggers specific hormonal responses. Carnivorous plants utilize digestive enzymes to create a nutrient-rich 'stew' from their prey, sometimes relying on symbiotic bacteria for digestion.
Genetic adaptations allowing for the digesting of insect chitin were critical in driving the success of carnivorous plants, as they were able to obtain essential minerals from their prey, giving them a reproductive advantage.
What Is The Mutualism Between Plants And Insects?
Insect-plant interactions are crucial for ecosystem dynamics, characterized by mutualistic relationships where both organisms benefit. Many insects act as pollinators, helping plants reproduce while gaining nectar, pollen, or safe spaces for egg deposition, but not seeds for consumption. A notable example of mutualism is the relationship between ants and aphids, where aphids provide honeydew after feeding on plant sap, thus encouraging ant protection.
In these interactions, three main categories emerge: mutualism, antagonism, and commensalism. Mutualism, in particular, highlights cooperation that enhances survival for both insects and plants, a dynamic crucial for evolutionary diversification. Notable mutualistic interactions include pollination, seed dispersal, and protection against herbivores, with examples like bees, butterflies, and yucca moths exemplifying this phenomenon.
The evolution of these relationships has been significant over the last 350 million years, with many plant species developing associations that benefit herbivory protection in exchange for nectar or shelter. Essential to this interaction is the concept of obligate mutualism, where one species entirely depends on another for resources. Overall, mutualism has played a fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth, shaping complex interdependencies between insects and plants that drive evolutionary innovation and resilience within terrestrial biocommunities. These cooperative dynamics underscore the importance of preserving both insects and plants for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.
What Is The Co Evolution Of Insects And Plants?
Plants and pollinators have evolved interdependent traits to enhance their mutual benefits, often seen in coevolution. This process involves at least two species influencing each other's evolution through natural selection. Coevolution can create specialized relationships, such as between pollinators and plants, where adaptations lead to efficient resource use and increased cross-pollination success. Insect-plant interactions fall into three categories: antagonism and mutualism, among others.
Research since 2010 highlights that these adaptations fundamentally shape ecosystems. Insect-plant coevolution influences diverse biological communities, contributing significantly to global biodiversity. For instance, modern insect-pollinated flowers, or entomophilous flowers, have developed intricate relationships with insects, ensuring their reproductive processes while offering nectar and pollen as rewards. This coevolutionary relationship has persisted for over 100 million years, establishing a complex interaction network.
Moreover, the coevolutionary dynamics may trigger specific plant defenses or adaptive chemical traits in response to insect herbivory, suggesting ongoing back-and-forth evolutionary responses. The fitness of both plants and insects is interlinked, fostering the development of adaptations that benefit each party. Instances of mutualistic adaptations can be identified through examples like pollination, protection, and seed dispersal.
Ultimately, coevolution exemplifies the evolutionary dance between interacting organisms, leading to reciprocal genetic changes that reflect their shared adaptations and interdependencies. As emphasized in the literature, coevolution is particularly pronounced between flowering plants and their pollinators due to their mutual reliance and intricate interactions.
What Is The Theory Of Coevolution In Insect Plant Interaction?
The co-evolution of plants and insects is a captivating subject. Plants have evolved mechanisms to defend themselves against herbivores, while insects have developed strategies to circumvent these defenses. This mutual adaptation profoundly influences the dynamics between plants and other organisms, leading to various coevolutionary relationships that have significant ecosystem implications. Notably, interactions between plants and herbivorous or pollinating insects exemplify coevolution. These relationships have spurred extensive study within the framework of coevolutionary theory, which posits that species evolve in response to one another, characterized by reciprocal adaptations.
The theory further breaks down into specific hypotheses that facilitate understanding at different scales, such as reciprocal adaptation among communities. Plant-insect interactions are particularly revealing since insects often rely solely on their host plants for sustenance. Furthermore, while some insects utilize plant-produced allelochemicals for benefits, others may detoxify harmful compounds for survival.
Overall, coevolution is fundamental in shaping biodiversity and ecological function globally. This review synthesizes research on plant-insect coevolution dynamics from 2010 onward, highlighting the bilateral influence of organisms within these interactions. Lastly, while coevolution can manifest in various forms, including pairwise adaptations among symbiotic species, the extensive evolutionary arms race observed between plants and insects underscores its significance in evolutionary biology.
📹 The amazing ways plants defend themselves – Valentin Hammoudi
Plants are constantly under attack. They face threats ranging from microscopic fungi to small herbivores like caterpillars, up to …
I love how you broke down the process of how and why such specialized adaptations evolved, that is one of the things I find most interesting about biology and such. so few people really talk about how and why these shifts might have happened and just note what physical part turned it whatever part and then says pressures selected to get here. but when you look at what before and after is much of the change points would seem to provide no real advantage, in fact, be a hindrance till the got much closer to the fully adapted part we see now,
Surprised you did not mention a bit of a caveat these plants need to pull off the utilization of their traps; they need ample sunlight and water to make up the extra sugars and digestive enzymes (if employed – there are a couple that just rely on bacteria or digestion by proxy) to capture and break down prey. Fortunately these are plentiful in the bogs and seeps they inhabit, since the waterlogged, acidic conditions that make nitrates and phosphates hard to come by keeps larger, shade casting plants from competing for light.
I LOVE when you include simple and easy-to-understand explanations of how something had to have evolved to become what it is and describe the kinds of steps that would have been necessary for the organism to evolve to have its specific features. I notice that this is a constant problem for people who question or deny the fact of evolution and these kinds of articles help so much to leave nothing unanswered. Cheers to everyone involved in writing & creating them!
I got a Sarracenia pitcher plant at Christmas, after looking up how to care for it, the great algorithm in the sky deemed it necessary to suggest to me this article. I’ve been subbed to Moth Light for about a year now. Every now & again the algorithm will push me a ML article I haven’t seen before & they’re always very interesting. Finally the algorithm has given me something mildly useful, but still interesting.
Was considering subbing and then saw this article. I can’t resist a article on carnivorous plants…so subbed. I really struggled fully grasping how things evolved so extremely but you showing the likely process really helped along with the diagrams. It’s so fasinating the differences in species, the similarities and the whole evolution timeline.
Absolutely wonderful article. I love all of your articles, but as a carnivorous plant grower with an intense interest in their evolution this article was especially awesome. Though I didn’t learn much new (again, I’ve done lots of research) this was the best short article I’ve ever seen on the subject and I will be sharing it as I spread my love for these carnivores!
The Waterwheel is more commonly known in the aquarium trade as Bladderwort. A plant that rgows small empty bladders which when triggered by living food touching the trap hairs on the bladder, will cause the bladder to open with a vaccuum suction inhaling the living prey, usually copopods, daphnia, amphipods, other small crustaceans, and fish fry.
Yo, I‘m studying biology and I like your content. I‘d like to add some info to the plant which had a rat inside at the beginning. My botanics professor likes to talk about them they actually feed off the dump these rodents put into the plant, which is nutrient-rich at least for the plants. The dead rat found inside was either an accident or its even fake news.;)
Great article, really enjoyed it and learned a lot, especially regarding how these plants came to be so heavily modified and how more primitive carnivorous plants show what these intermediate stages might have looked like. But I think you meant that the trap apparatus is ‘homologous’ to the leaves of other plants with the the vein being the hinge? I’m not knit-picking, I’m just genuinely interested in the nuances of homology and analogy, and wanted to know if I was missing something. Thank you!
Really awesome and informative article, I don’t know much about carnivorous plants or their evolution, and perusal your article really filled in some of the gaps for me so thanks! 🙂 One thing I do want to mention though is that the plant @ 6:09 in the article could be a member of Pinguicula (also called Butterworts) I’m not 100% sure but I think they’re a separate family from Drosera (Sundews). Butterworts do act very similarly to the Sundews in how they catch their prey, except the Butterworts are much more basic. Instead of being able to wrap the leaf around the insect, like the mighty Sundew can, they release a mucus like substance that encases the insect, more mucus is released the more the insect moves, only some are able to bend their leaves and even those that can, failed in gymnastics and can only bend the edge very slightly. I’m not sure what anyone else’s thoughts are but maybe the Drosera are just highly evolved Butterworts? or maybe I’m just an idiot who doesn’t understand anything about carnivorous plants…who knows All my info about Butterworts was taken from here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinguicula P.S Good on you for reading this far, stay awesome you funky little fuzznuzzle
I found utricularia last year in one of the lakes (probably saw it many times before but never paid any attention to it) and I really liked the flowers of it. They are not big but still, very beautiful. I wanted to take it to my pond and when I was pulling it out of the water, I heard a popping sound that confuses the hell out of me. I noticed that this plant had something that looked like a small snails attached to it and I thought they somehow close their shells when out of the water. I didn’t take a closer look and was like “heck no, plant is nice but ain’t taking all the snails with it”. Later that day I decided to google what plant it was and it just stunned me when I found out that those weren’t snails 😅
I have a plant out back of my house that will eat a sheep. True 100% no lies. The black berry bushes have thorns that are pointed INWARD on the plant.. so the sheep can walk into the middle of the patch, but will get hopelessly tangled and not be able to back out. It will die, rot where it falls and therefore provide a huge benefit to the plant in the way of fertilizer.
Awesome articles. I live in upstate new york .u.s.a. We have several carnivorous plants in this area, 3 kinds of pitcher plants most common being the purple pitcher, we has sun and star dews in forever wild zones. They are extremely sensitive to environmental disturbances. The moss they choose to grow around also dies when mearly stepped on. You can actually see animal tracks in the moss occasionally from that situation. Id be happy to take pictures if i can get up into the mountain swamps. I THINK, though far from certain, people can view a “sample” of the areas wilderness. PaulSmiths collage in gabriels/onciota new york area has nature trails for untouched habitat viewing. They laid down boardwalk in the swamp area to see said pitcjer plants and what-not. it is genuinely untouched besides that trail. They used to have remote view cameras people could access online and look at the differant habbitats of the adirondacks. Im not sure if many people know this but the north eastern adirondack mountains have a unique look. Its a mix of arctic tundra and swamp and spots of truely old woods…we have lots of stuff that “doesn’t exist” here like english moss hanging from the trees, not to be confised with “old mans beard” lycans. Though it looks similar. Lycans carpet the area heavily. If its on the ground and not a tree or is not a moss or a blueberry shrub, its a lycan . they are that well established. I can saddly see the recession of their habitat…there is alot of dead area around the perimeter of the forest where it becomes abit sparse naturally as it transitions from woodlands into fields or whatever.
I believe there are many more carnivorous plants that have yet to be classified as such or at least considered omnivore. Thorns are usually grown to enable selective feeding of the plant for example to keep large animals away so insects and birds can feed but some vines for example grow fish hook shaped thorns to trap thick coated animals like sheep that end up dying of dehydration trapped in the tangle creating a perfect soil enricher for the plant.
Everyone always imagines some far off, exotic, tropical rainforest when they think of odd and rare plant life. However, the iconic Venus Fly Trap is native to the costal plain of little ol’ N.C. My home state. We have some of the rarest and most unique plants on earth. High in the Great Smoky Mountains we have species of Rhododendrons that are only comparable to species found in the Western Ghats in India.
Are there herbiovorous plants? I guess that would just be called parasitic, like those red shoots that grow on some tree roots Sitting there while living creatures fall into your traps is so satisfying, these plants must love dwarf fortress. Though maybe they’d play it the other way around, where you start a colony of mushrooms and grow dwarves for food Hmm, so all plants are meat eaters. Some just dont have leaves that are very good at killing. Just like how all herbivores can eat meat, some just dont have legs/eyes and teeth that are very good at pursuing and ripping stickiness is not only less relevant, its more dangerous and more energy demanding. When you use that glue, you then have to make more glue. And it raises the potential to get snagged on something that might be stronger than the leaf is. Though I bet the glue is weaker than the leaf so you wouldnt be able to tear off a leaf from the glue, its still a waste of time and bait Wow the bladder trap is reall interesting. Perhaps similar evolutionary pressures and strategies allowed the animal stomach to evolve?
i had a very small venus flytryp in my bedroom and it actually captured alot of small flies. I didnt even know we had that many flies in our house. But for some reason, whenever the plant catched a fly, the mouth would never open again and just simply turn yellow and fall off. Then the plant would just grow several new mouths, because the older mouths kept dying off. No idea if this kind of behavior was normal or if I did something wrong. I was a kid after all
I’ve always thought these could be smart house plants if you were bothered by house flies ants and the usual opportunistic kitchen infestation bugs, but they all seem to need high-humidity swamps with strong sunlight. If that isn’t problematic enough for a house plant at the best of times, I live in cold, dry Canada, so they’re just incredibly picky to make work here. I wonder about those plants that live in really “acidic” soil — if they might offer a non-swamp variety of bug eating plant.
There’s a Nepenthes species that has a symbiosis with a bat species. In addition to normal traps it makes special ones for the bats to safely roost in during the day. The bat reciprocates by leaving its excreta for the plant. I wonder how long it took this interaction to evolve, and why only one bat and one Nepenthes figured it out.
There is another carnivorous plant that is not described in this article. They are known as the fig tree. Not all varieties consume insects, but some do. Usually they eat the pollinator to make fruit out of the nutrients of the bug. However, it is only the females of the species that eat the bugs, while the males do not eat the bugs.
My nan had some exotic plants (with teeth🤘) that did fascinate me as a kid. Evolution can be mind blowing (I can see why many believe in deities), but it just millions of natural variations over millennia does get interesting. Except, some things are definitely aliens (like praying mantises, insects don’t just invent kung fu!) PS: I find it would be worth doing a article on how photosynthesis and a mammal’s metabolism are almost identical, just backwards (ATP and the citric-cycle are other miracles of evolution, almost went into sports science).
Great article! I’m going to have to share it with my fellow carnivorous plant enthusiasts here in east Texas. I know they’ll enjoy it too. Why did your map show Utricularia in such a small area of the US? Just down the road from me there are some blooming right now. There are 10 species found in east Texas (2 of them rare in this area). This map shows occurrence of the genus across the continental US: bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Genus/Utricularia.png
You missed the largest carnivorous plant. It eats goats and sheep, even pigs and cattle have fallen prey to the blackberry bush. It developed thorns as a defense that evolved to trap any furred animal in its vines . The starve die and rot at the base of the plant. True, they don’t absorb the victims directly but they do use them as a fertilizer
I don’t think any of these plants have fruit or berries, which is kinda too bad. It would certainly make for some stories reaping fruit from a animal or bug eating plant, the more simple acidic or snap-trap variety. And fruit will draw animals and insects. I suppose it’s all the energy it takes to make fruit combined with fruit potentially attracting things like birds and animals big enough to tear apart the plant to reap prey from inside it. How do these plants spread and propagate in such lousy soil anyway, particularly given they make such enemies of insects? Before they get large enough to feed with their leaves, they must have some other coping mechanism for gaining nutrients and taking hold.
I can tell you about my ancestors. My ancestors were badass killing machines that may or may not have caused many wars to happen with other plants. They had intimidating mouths and teeth that dug into many animals nightmares. I asked my grandpa why our ancestors became carnivores and he said “Well son, water got boring, eating your victims alive is so much FUN!”
Keep strong. Dont forget that despite the struggles in this world, God is full of justice, mercy and love. Justice said we broke His perfect law – causing the world’s previous perfection to be destroyed – and therefore we deserve Hell (like a punishment in any legal system but this is eternal as His perfect law is eternal too). Don’t think you fit in that category? Ever done one of these?: lying, stealing – regardless of how small the object EVER, hating others – which is murder in God’s perfect law, lusting (plus God sees our entire thought life). Justice says “the soul that sins shall die” – if we break one in thought/word/deed it’s as if we’re guilty of all of them. Quite simply, living by the law (which is doing everything perfectly) is impossible for sinful humans . The law shows us that 1. We will die in Hell if we fail to follow it and 2. We cannot save ourselves BUT, 3. God’s perfect, immovable law points us to Christ, who followed and fulfilled the law in thought, word and deed perfectly in our place. He did what we couldn’t and did it on our behalf. He was then sentenced to death on a cross, and took our personal punishment for our sin, paying our penalty (like paying our fine) completely FOR us, and has given us freedom. If we turn from the sins we have committed and repent (pursue the opposite direction of love through Christ) He will, overtime, recreate us back into that previously perfect image through The Holy Spirit which Jesus sends to all who accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior of their life.