Common descent

Common descent describes how, in evolutionary biology, a group of organisms share a most recent common ancestor. There is evidence of common descent that all life on Earth is descended from the last universal ancestor.

Common ancestry between organisms of different species arises during speciation, in which new species are established from a single ancestral population. Organisms which share a more recent common ancestor are more closely related. The most recent common ancestor of all currently living organisms is the last universal ancestor, which lived about 3.9 billion years ago. The two earliest evidences for life on Earth are graphite found to be biogenic in 3.7 billion-year-old metasedimentary rocks discovered in western Greenland and microbial mat fossils found in 3.48 billion-year-old sandstone discovered in Western Australia. All currently living organisms on Earth share a common genetic heritage (universal common descent), with each being the descendant from a single original species, though the suggestion of substantial horizontal gene transfer during early evolution has led to questions about monophyly of life.

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Latest News for: common descent

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Africa Faces High Kidney Disease Burden, St. Nicholas Hospital Declares

This Day 22 Mar 2025
Ebun Bamgboye, highlighted that kidney disease disproportionately affects Black populations, particularly those of West African descent. He explained that the presence of the APOL1 gene, more common ...
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New Zealand’s most popular day hike deceptively dangerous

NewstalkZB 22 Mar 2025
... level of fitness, and not packing the right clothing for the conditions.  Slips, trips and falls are common, particularly on the rocky scree slope descent from Red Crater to Central Crater.
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Blood test for ovarian cancer misses some Black and Native American patients, study finds

Boston Herald 21 Mar 2025
A common blood test may ... The researchers suspect it has something to do with a harmless genetic variation that is more common in people of African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and West Indian descent.
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Why didn't Mahmoud Khalil, detained Columbia graduate student, condemn Hamas? | Opinion

Lohud 20 Mar 2025
Not long after arriving in the United States on a student visa, he married his longtime girlfriend, a dentist who happened to be an American citizen of Palestinian descent.
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The experts' guide to fighting rosacea: From cosmetics to stress and the foods you MUST ...

The Daily Mail 17 Mar 2025
For the full lowdown on this common skin condition, we spoke to dermatologist Dr Mazin Al-Khafaji of dermatology-m.com ... People with fair skin, especially those of Northern or Eastern European descent, are at a higher risk.
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James Bass: Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day

The Robesonian 14 Mar 2025
News and World Report, almost 10 percent of Americans are of Irish descent, making it the third most common ancestry in the U.S.
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King Tharypas: The Ancient Greek Ruler Who Shaped Epirus as a Major Power

Greek Reporter 12 Mar 2025
Classical Numismatic Group CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons ... He was a member of the Aeacid dynasty, which claimed descent from the mythical hero Achilles ... The Aeacide clan claimed claimed descent from Achilles.
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Italy, here we come: Why these Angelenos are bailing on the U.S.

The Los Angeles Times 11 Mar 2025
She planned to live in Malibu and own a second home in Italy, since her husband is Italian by descent ... He used Permunian's company to help obtain Italian citizenship, which is available only to those of Italian descent.
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