( It ( ( ( ( took centuries ) ( for ( ( ( man 's ) knowledge ) ( of genetics ) ) ) ) ( to ( ( evolve ( to ( the point ) ) ) ( where ( there ( was ( ( a ( basic understanding ) ) ( of ( ( ( ( the role ) ( of ( ( ( the egg ) and ) ( the sperm ) ) ) ) and ) ( ( the inheritance ) ( of ( characteristics ( such ( as ( ( ( blue eyes ) and ) ( big ears ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP It)) (VP (VBD took) (NP (NNS centuries)) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (NP (NN man) (POS 's)) (NN knowledge)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS genetics))))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB evolve) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT the) (NN point))) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB where)) (S (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBD was) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ basic) (NN understanding)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (NN role)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN egg)) (CC and) (NP (DT the) (NN sperm))))) (CC and) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN inheritance)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS characteristics)) (PP (JJ such) (IN as) (NP (NP (JJ blue) (NNS eyes)) (CC and) (NP (JJ big) (NNS ears))))))))))))))))) (. .)))
It took centuries for man's knowledge of genetics to evolve to the point where there was a basic understanding of the role of the egg and the sperm and the inheritance of characteristics such as blue eyes and big ears.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT A) (JJ human) (NN offspring)) (VP (VBP inherit) (NP (JJ blue) (NNS eyes))) (. .)))