[DManA]

The "tree of life" has always been just a metaphor to assist in explaining Darwin's ideas, not his core idea. The article argues that it is too simple and reality is much more complicated.

But what if species also routinely swapped genetic material with other species, or hybridised with them? ....We now know that this is exactly what happens.

This is even more of a problem than the tree of life for those who treat the Bible as a science book.

[GodGunsGuts]

==This is even more of a problem than the tree of life for those who treat the Bible as a science book.

Not at all, Creation Scientists have been positing horizontal gene transfer as a possible purpose for ERVs for years.

[demshateGod]

“The “tree of life” has always been just a metaphor...”

One could say, a religious icon or relic, like the Catholics have, to make their religion more real and palatable. That makes sense to me. Every religion needs their relics. Mine is the Holy Scripture.

[org.whodat]

The "tree of life" has always been just a metaphor to assist in explaining Darwin's ideas, not his core idea. The article argues that it is too simple and reality is much more complicated.

But what if species also routinely swapped genetic material with other species, or hybridised with them? ....We now know that this is exactly what happens.

This is even more of a problem than the tree of life for those who treat the Bible as a science book.

But then you could not attack it with a simple lie.