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'''Common descent''' is an idea in [[Biology]] which is applied on two levels, with a group of species being said to share a recent common ancestor, or the broader conjecture which asserts that all organisms on earth originated from common ancestors. The idea of common descent is usually associated with Darwin's [[Theory of Evolution]].

'''Common descent''' is an idea in [[Biology]] which is applied on two levels, with a group of species being said to share a recent common ancestor, or the broader conjecture, [[universal common ancestry]], which asserts that all organisms on earth originated from common ancestors. The idea of common descent is usually associated with Darwin's [[Theory of Evolution]], but creationists often suggest it as a solution to the difficulty of the Ark capacity limit.

Darwin wrote:

Darwin wrote:

:"When I view all beings not as special creations, but as the lineal descendants of some few beings which lived long before the first bed of the [[Silurian]] system was deposited, they seem to me to become ennobled."

:"When I view all beings not as special creations, but as the lineal descendants of some few beings which lived long before the first bed of the [[Silurian]] system was deposited, they seem to me to become ennobled."

==Common Descent Unplausible==

==Common Descent Implausible==

   

   

Dr. Jonathon Wells published a book in 2002 entitled ''[[Icons of Evolution]]''.  Dr. Wells says that "the best-known “evidences” for Darwin’s theory have been exaggerated, distorted or even faked."<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1180</ref><ref>http://www.iconsofevolution.com/</ref><ref>http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf</ref>

Dr. [[Jonathan Wells]] published a book in 2002 entitled ''[[Icons of Evolution]]''.  Dr. Wells says that "the best-known “evidences” for Darwin’s theory have been exaggerated, distorted or even faked."<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1180</ref><ref>http://www.iconsofevolution.com/</ref><ref>http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf</ref>

Also, he says that many current biology textbooks use distorted pictures of vertebrate embryos to convince students that vertebrates share a common ancestor. [http://www.nmsr.org/jonwells.htm (Wells)]

Also, he says that many current biology textbooks use distorted pictures of vertebrate embryos to convince students that vertebrates share a common ancestor. [http://www.nmsr.org/jonwells.htm (Wells)]

Creationist scientists have written regarding the nature of [[Haeckel]]'s work and how a prestigious German science journal published a work that they believe was invalid.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v18/i2/haeckel.asp</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/747</ref>

Creationist scientists have written regarding the nature of [[Haeckel]]'s work and how a prestigious German science journal published a work that they believe was invalid.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v18/i2/haeckel.asp</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/747</ref>

Some advocates of ''Intelligent Design'' also accept common descent. Most notably Michael Behe:

Some advocates of ''Intelligent Design'' accept common descent. Most notably Michael Behe:

"The word "evolution" carries many associations. Usually it means common descent -- the idea that all organisms living and dead are related by common ancestry. I have no quarrel with the idea of common descent, and continue to think it explains similarities among species. By itself, however, common descent doesn't explain the vast differences among species."<ref>[http://www.arn.org/docs/behe/mb_dm11496.htm Darwin Under the Microscope]</ref>

"The word "evolution" carries many associations. Usually it means common descent—the idea that all organisms living and dead are related by common ancestry. I have no quarrel with the idea of common descent, and continue to think it explains similarities among species. By itself, however, common descent doesn't explain the vast differences among species."<ref>[http://www.arn.org/docs/behe/mb_dm11496.htm Darwin Under the Microscope]</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Biology]][[Category:Evolution]]

[[Category:Biology]][[Category:Evolution]]