[Ol' Dan Tucker]

BTW, a good friend of mine is completing his doctorate in molecular biology, and he told me he does not embrace common descent. I think he may understand biology and genetics since a major medical institution is employing him to research cancer.

Maybe his was a social promotion.

[unlearner]

"Maybe his was a social promotion."

I'm sure common descent was not an issue that came up in his job interview. Why don't you petition medical and other scientific institutions to screen applicants by having them swear they affirm common descent? My friend couldn't possibly do his job without believing in common descent, right?

He also said he knew many others who share his view. I personally do not work in that field, so I do not know first hand.

Universal common descent is nonessential to any science. What consequences would there be of it being untrue?

Apparently there are more than a few fervent believers in universal common descent who elevate it to the level of causality or logic or mathematics. It is not just a tenet of their science, it is an axiom of it. It is the measure of all else.