Evolution (Evolution)

by David Turell , Monday, February 23, 2009, 22:02 (5547 days ago) @ BBella

Is Darwin's evolution concept of the simple tree of life that all genes come from one beginning? Is the above findings saying genes come from many beginnings? I read the summary but could not understand what their findings have found. Could you explain in layman terms?
 
The original idea of a tree of life is that a number of the same single-celled organisms appeared, and from that life branched out from the common ancestor. All the article is saying is that there were probably several origins and a rather complicated branching system like a bunch of shrubs all growing together. Part of the problem is sorting all of this out is that there has been lateral transfer of genes and also viral genes added after infections. Also the early classifications have been from appearance. Homologous means true descent, and analogous means 'looks alike' but not descended. Some of this is still being sorted out, both in outward characteristics and in specialized protein molecules, i.e., hemoglobin, or Cytochrome C (energy production) from species to species.