How would you describe Darwin's theory of common descent? What is some evidence that supports it?
1 Answer
Darwin described his theory as descent with modification. A single "simple" cell changed gained more information and complexity resulting in all forms of life observed today.
Explanation:
Darwin felt that the cell had an infinite possibility of variation. The laws of genetics discovered by Mendel proved that the variations of living things though great was not infinite.
Darwin felt that competition and natural selection would cause a slow by steady improvement and increase in complexity. Now that it is known that DNA is an informational code the laws of information apply to descent with modification. The laws of information are governed by entropy . Entropy means that information slowly decreases in complexity and effectiveness.
Evidence for the theory of common descent are.
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DNA all living things have the same DNA code. Since all living things have the same DNA it is logical that all living things have a common origin.
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homologous organs. The bones in vertebrates though serving different functions have the same basic structures.
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The fossil record seems to show a progression from simple animals at the bottom of the geological column to more complex animals at the top of the geological column.
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Darwin pointed to evolutionary changes in living things such as the divergent changes in the Finches isolated in the Pacific Islands.
and extrapolated the intra species changes to inter species changes.
There is evidence that supports Darwin's theory of descent with modification. There is also evidence that opposes Darwin's theory of common descent.
