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The idea of '''universal common ancestry''' is the idea that all life on Earth is related via a single [[family tree]].  Accordingly, it supposes that human beings, as well as animals, plants and every other form of life on Earth are related. People and monkeys are thus distant cousins.  

The idea of '''universal common ancestry''' is the idea that all life on Earth is related via a single [[family tree]].  Accordingly, it supposes that human beings, as well as animals, plants and every other form of life on Earth are related. People and monkeys are thus distant cousins.  

While universal common ancestry (UCA) is a keystone of the naturalistic [[theory of evolution]] (NTOE),<ref>Alan D. Gishlick, Alan D., [http://www.natcenscied.org/icons/icon2tol.html Icons of Evolution? Darwin's Tree of Life]</ref> it is not exclusive to evolution.  UCA is also accepted by some [[Intelligent design]] advocates, including [[Michael Behe]].<ref>http://www.evolutionnews.org/2007/05/_most_people_including.html</ref>  

While universal common ancestry (UCA) is a keystone of the naturalistic [[theory of evolution]] (NTOE),<ref>Alan D. Gishlick, Alan D., [http://www.natcenscied.org/icons/icon2tol.html Icons of Evolution? Darwin's Tree of Life]</ref> it is not exclusive to evolution.  Some [[Intelligent design]] advocates, including [[Michael Behe]], have no quarrel with UCA.<ref>http://www.evolutionnews.org/2007/05/_most_people_including.html</ref>  

[[Creationism]] vigorously rejects this idea, based on their belief that the scientific evidence makes universal common ancestry appear highly improbable or impossible.  They believe instead that life originated in a number of unrelated forms, as understood by [[Baraminology]].  They also reject universal common ancestry because it contradicts a straightforward reading of [[Genesis]], which reports that God created each living "according to its kinds," and that God created mankind ''in His Image'', having a superior position and dominion over the rest of God's creation.

[[Creationism]] vigorously rejects this idea, because it contradicts a straightforward reading of [[Genesis]], which reports that God created each living "according to its kinds," and that God created mankind ''in His Image'', having a superior position and dominion over the rest of God's creation. Creationists also believe that the scientific evidence makes universal common ancestry appear highly improbable or impossible.  They believe instead that life originated in a number of unrelated forms, as understood by [[Baraminology]]. 

== History ==

== History ==

The second objection includes incidents of [[irreducible complexity]] and [[specified complexity]] to point to the unlikelihood that all life forms diversified through variation and selection alone.  They point to issues such as:

The second objection includes incidents of [[irreducible complexity]] and [[specified complexity]] to point to the unlikelihood that all life forms diversified through variation and selection alone.  They point to issues such as:

* The transition from non-self-reproducing chemicals to self-replicating cells: the process of self-replication requires an enormous number of components be present in the cell for it to function at all, and none of the components required for self-replication serve any purpose unless all are present simultaneously; therefore it is unreasonable to conclude that [[abiogenesis]] occurred without [[design]].

* The transition from non-self-reproducing chemicals to self-replicating cells: the process of self-replication requires an enormous number of components be present in the cell for it to function at all, and none of the components required for self-replication serve any purpose unless all are present simultaneously; therefore it is unreasonable to conclude that [[abiogenesis]] occurred without [[design]].

* The transition from asexual reproduction to sexual reproduction: male reproductive organs are incredibly complex, and serve no purpose unless female reproductive organs (which are equally, if not more, complex) already exist.  Therefore the sexes could not have evolved in a step-wise fashion, because neither set of reproductive organs would serve any purpose unless the other set already existed.

* The transition from asexual reproduction to sexual reproduction: male reproductive organs are incredibly complex, and serve no purpose unless female reproductive organs (which are equally, if not more, complex) already exist.  Therefore, the sexes could not have evolved in a step-wise fashion, because neither set of reproductive organs would serve any purpose unless the other set already existed.

* The evolutionary explanation is that living things share common features because the DNA that produces those features has a common ancestry.  Creationists point out that in some cases, common features are caused by ''different'' genes, thus refuting that explanation.

* The evolutionary explanation is that living things share common features because the DNA that produces those features has a common ancestry.  Creationists point out that in some cases, common features are caused by ''different'' genes, thus refuting that explanation.

A [[Retrovirus]] is a virus that incorporates itself into an host cell's DNA, and programs the host cell to produce copies of the virus.  [[Endogenous retrovirus]]es (ERVs) are retroviruses that infected an organism's [[germ cell]]s, and were thus passed to the next generation, and incorporated into the organism's genetic line over time.

A [[Retrovirus]] is a virus that incorporates itself into an host cell's DNA, and programs the host cell to produce copies of the virus.  [[Endogenous retrovirus]]es (ERVs) are retroviruses that infected an organism's [[germ cell]]s, and were thus passed to the next generation, and incorporated into the organism's genetic line over time.

Researchers estimate that 1% of the human genome is occupied by ERVs, constituting approximately 30,000 different ERVs.<ref>Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Retroviruses and primate evolution." BioEssays 22: 161-171. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10655035&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>  Some of these ERVs are shared by humans and apes, and are found in the same place in the respective genomes. <ref>Lebedev, Y. B., Belonovitch, O. S., Zybrova, N. V, Khil, P. P., Kurdyukov, S. G., Vinogradova, T. V., Hunsmann, G., and Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Differences in HERV-K LTR insertions in orthologous loci of humans and great apes." Gene 247: 265-277.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10773466&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>

Researchers estimate that 1% of the human genome is occupied by ERVs, constituting approximately 30,000 different ERVs.<ref>Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Retroviruses and primate evolution." BioEssays 22: 161-171. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10655035&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>  Some of these ERVs are shared by humans and apes, and are found in the same place in the respective genomes.<ref>Lebedev, Y. B., Belonovitch, O. S., Zybrova, N. V, Khil, P. P., Kurdyukov, S. G., Vinogradova, T. V., Hunsmann, G., and Sverdlov, E. D. (2000) "Differences in HERV-K LTR insertions in orthologous loci of humans and great apes." Gene 247: 265-277.[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10773466&dopt=AbstractPlus]</ref>

From these facts, evolutionists argue that these ERVs are shared by humans and primates because they were inherited by a common ancestor.   

From these facts, evolutionists argue that these ERVs are shared by humans and primates because they were inherited by a common ancestor.   

==== Criticism ====

==== Criticism ====

Evolutionists gloss over two important facts when making this argument: First, many retroviruses can infect both humans and apes.  The most notable of these is [[HIV]], which is widely believed to have originated as [[SIV]] in chimpanzees, but can also infect humans, apes, and monkeys.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5012268.stm</ref>  It is entirely possible, therefore, that humans and apes were ''independently infected'' with the same virus.  Second, some retroviruses have been shown to have highly targeted insertion points, meaning that the virus selects very specific segments of the genome for insertion.<ref>Citation: (2004) Retroviral Gene Vectors Show Clear Target Preferences. PLoS Biol 2(12): e443 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020443 [http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020443&ct=1]</ref>  Consequently, it is entirely possible that the same virus infected both humans and apes, and targeted the same location.  This seems especially plausible in light of the fact that humans and apes have ''tens of thousands'' of endogenous retroviruses in their respective genomes -- at least a ''few'' of the retroviruses are likely to infect both humans and apes at the same location.

Evolutionists [[gloss]] over two important facts when making this argument: First, many retroviruses can infect both humans and apes.  The most notable of these is [[HIV]], which is widely believed to have originated as [[SIV]] in chimpanzees, but can also infect humans, apes, and monkeys.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5012268.stm</ref>  It is entirely possible, therefore, that humans and apes were ''independently infected'' with the same virus.  Second, some retroviruses have been shown to have highly targeted insertion points, meaning that the virus selects very specific segments of the genome for insertion.<ref>Citation: (2004) Retroviral Gene Vectors Show Clear Target Preferences. PLoS Biol 2(12): e443 doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0020443 [http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0020443&ct=1]</ref>  Consequently, it is entirely possible that the same virus infected both humans and apes, and targeted the same location.  This seems especially plausible in light of the fact that humans and apes have ''tens of thousands'' of endogenous retroviruses in their respective genomes—at least a ''few'' of the retroviruses are likely to infect both humans and apes at the same location.

Additionally, scientists have determined that some endogenous retroviruses are indispensable to a species' life or reproduction.<ref>"Researchers Discover that Sheep Need Retroviruses for Reproduction," Texas A&M AgNews, 11 Sep 06.[http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ANSC/Sep1106b.htm]</ref>  If the retrovirus is advantageous in some way, that would explain how the retrovirus spread to the entire species.  It also presents the possibility that retroviruses were used as part of the creative process, as [[retrovirus]]es are often used in genetic engineering today, to introduce new genetic material to cells.

Additionally, scientists have determined that some endogenous retroviruses are indispensable to a species' life or reproduction.<ref>"Researchers Discover that Sheep Need Retroviruses for Reproduction," Texas A&M AgNews, 11 Sep 06.[http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ANSC/Sep1106b.htm]</ref>  If the retrovirus is advantageous in some way, that would explain how the retrovirus spread to the entire species.  It also presents the possibility that retroviruses were used as part of the creative process, as [[retrovirus]]es are often used in genetic engineering today, to introduce new genetic material to cells.

* '''Creationism''': Creationists argue that common genes in diverse species is no more evidence of ''common descent'' as it is of ''common design''.

* '''Creationism''': Creationists argue that common genes in diverse species is no more evidence of ''common descent'' as it is of ''common design''.

 

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:Evolution]]

[[Category:Evolution]]

[[Category:Creationism]]

[[Category:Creationism]]