# Gpuccio on Common Descent

**URL:** https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/gpuccio-on-common-descent/7554
**Category:** Conversation
**Tags:** Science
**Created:** [August 25, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/gpuccio-on-common-descent/7554 "2019-08-25T22:28:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/gpuccio-on-common-descent/7554/1 "2019-08-25T22:28:24Z")

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Continuing the discussion from [Gpuccio: Functional Information Methodology](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/gpuccio-functional-information-methodology/7549/28):

@Gpuccio just joined our forum, and the conversation is unfolding about how he has computed FI gains to infer design at the vertebrate transition. I am sure some disagreements will be uncovered. At the same time, i wanted to explore our common ground.

One place of common ground appears to be @gpuccio’s affirmation of common descent, which makes his connection to Uncommon Descent somewhat of a misnomer. This puts him in a rare group of “theistic evolutionists” within ID, that includes Michael Behe and Denton.

He states:

> [@Gpuccio: Functional Information Methodology](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/gpuccio-functional-information-methodology/7549/28):
>
> I affirm common descent of all living organisms, at least as the best current theory. Including, of course, humans.

Another poster here, @Giltil, has commented on this recently too.

> [@What Are Your Favorite Arguments For Evolution?](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/what-are-your-favorite-arguments-for-evolution/7127/25):
>
> A powerful argument for common descent (but not for blind/unguided evolution) was given to me by gpuccio, a gifted contributor at the ID blog « Uncommon descent ».  
> According to him,
> 
> > the simple observation of the frequency of synonymous mutations in different species is the strongest argument for common descent that we can imagine.
> 
> I’ve tried to find a way to counter his argument, but after several exchanges, I was forced to realize that it was very powerful and I gave up.
> 
> For those that may be interested to know more about the argument, I invite you to look at posts 1/123/131/144/159/161/164/169/171/175/181/184 of the conversation below.
> 
> [Consider the opossum: the evidence for common descent | Uncommon Descent](https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/consider-the-opossum-the-evidence-for-common-descent/)

At some point, I’d like to look more closely at the argument for common descent that @gpuccio is making. I am hopeful this will be a place of common ground.

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