Distance to the MS (ΔMS) as a function of the stellar mass (in log scales). Shaded black dots represent the observed passive galaxies at z_i = {1.25, 1.75, 2.25, 2.75, 3.25}, while color-coded dots (by density over the plane) show the progenitors predicted MS distance at z_p = {1.75, 2.25, 2.75, 3.25, 3.57}. Progenitors’ SFR and M_⋆ were obtained by computing the expected change in SFR and M_⋆ of galaxies at z₁. The evolution in time from z₂ to z₁ over the M_⋆ − SFR plane was predicted as in Fig. 17. Cyan solid lines indicate the MS ± 0.3 dex, the magenta solid line the MS + 0.6 dex, and red solid line the sSFR = 10⁻¹¹ yr⁻¹ limit for passive galaxies. The color bar represents the normalized progenitor’s density over the plane at z_p, while the gray color bar shows the normalized observed density of sources at z_i.