Any practical use for Universal Common Ancestor?

AZPaul3 writes: What part of leave them alone for a few million years do you not understand? That is a breeding program that has already worked for every organism on this planet today

It may tell *you* nothing

vimesey writes:This diversion is off topic

Tanypteryx writes:Mutations.

Tanypteryx writes: I know what macroevolution is

JonF writes:So this thread is pointless.

ringo writes: Well, you have a nice avatar.

edge writes: If the concept of a common ancestor is used by just one scientists to make sense of life on earth, then it is useful.

Taq writes:I already supplied that practical use.

Sarah Bellum writes: The idea of a universal common ancestor is a concept in a branch of science with enormous practical applications. If you look it up, you'll find applications to patterns of disease mutation, relative virulence of parasites, handling drug or pesticide resistance, selective breeding ("artificial" selection finds knowledge of "natural" selection useful!), evaluation of possible hazards from genetically modified crops, preservation of endangered species, understanding of gene function (if you know the pattern of descent it helps in learning about genes with still-unknown function), development of biological strains to decompose hazardous materials, genetic algorithms . . .

edge writes:I thought my comment to be appropriate. Sorry that it contradicts your opinion.

Taq writes:It involves extinct fossil species as well since they supply the evidence for phylogeneis that have practical uses.

Sarah Bellum writes:That's like saying we'd get the same use out of geology if we didn't believe plate tectonics, or the same use out of chemistry if we still believed there were only four elements!