(August 24, 2016 at 1:31 pm)Crossless1 Wrote:(August 24, 2016 at 1:22 pm)SteveII Wrote: No, my point was to have a discussion on what happens to the overall Theory of Evolution (modern synthesis) if the theory of Common Descent is permanently undermined due to unresolved gene conflicts. I offered my opinion that if common descent is permanently undermined, everything we have inferred about the overall theory is called into question. In light of feedback and further reflection, it does not matter to the question whether Common Descent is an assumption or a conclusion--only that it is intertwined in many of the sub-theories. The question remains unanswered unless your answer is that it cannot be wrong--in which case that is not a very scientific position.
And until these hypothetical genetic conflicts come to light, what strikes you as the most reasonable inference given what we currently know?
They are not hypothetical. The only thing hypothetical is if it can't be resolved (currently they don't seem to know how). Dawkins throws out a date of 2050.
http://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/art...io.0040352
