Changes

==Description==

==Description==

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_biology evolutionary biology], a group of [[organisms]] have common '''descent''' if they have a common [[ancestor]]. "There is strong [[quantitative]] [[support]], by a [[formal]] test" for the [[theory]] that all living [[organisms]] on [[Earth]] are descended from a common ancestor.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_biology evolutionary biology], a group of [[organisms]] have common '''descent''' if they have a common [[ancestor]]. "There is strong [[quantitative]] [[support]], by a [[formal]] test" for the [[theory]] that all living [[organisms]] on [[Earth]] are descended from a common ancestor.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Charles Darwin] proposed the [[theory]] of universal common descent through an [[evolutionary]] [[process]] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species ''On the Origin of Species''], saying, "There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several [[powers]], having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one".

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin Charles Darwin] proposed the [[theory]] of universal common descent through an [[evolutionary]] [[process]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species ''On the Origin of Species''], saying, "There is a grandeur in this view of life, with its several [[powers]], having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one".

The last [[universal]] [[ancestor]] (LUA) (or last universal common ancestor, LUCA), that is, the most recent common ancestor of all currently living [[organisms]], is believed to have appeared about 3.9 billion years ago.

The last [[universal]] [[ancestor]] (LUA) (or last universal common ancestor, LUCA), that is, the most recent common ancestor of all currently living [[organisms]], is believed to have appeared about 3.9 billion years ago.

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ancestor%27s_Tale ''The Ancestor's Tale''], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins Richard Dawkins] coined the word concestor, as a substitute for common ancestor or most recent common ancestor. This new [[word]] is very gradually entering [[scientific]] parlance.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ancestor%27s_Tale ''The Ancestor's Tale''], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins Richard Dawkins] coined the word concestor, as a substitute for common ancestor or most recent common ancestor. This new [[word]] is very gradually entering [[scientific]] parlance.

==Descent and the family==

==Descent and the family==

Descent, like [[family]] systems, is one of the major [[concepts]] of [[anthropology]]. [[Cultures]] worldwide [[possess]] a wide range of systems of tracing kinship and descent. Anthropologists break these down into simple [[concepts]] about what is [[thought]] to be common among many different cultures.

Descent, like [[family]] systems, is one of the major [[concepts]] of [[anthropology]]. [[Cultures]] worldwide [[possess]] a wide range of systems of tracing kinship and descent. Anthropologists break these down into simple [[concepts]] about what is [[thought]] to be common among many different cultures.

*Descent groups

*Descent groups

A ''descent group'' is a [[social]] [[group]] whose members claim [[common]] [[ancestry]]. A unilineal [[society]] is one in which the descent of an [[individual]] is reckoned either from the [[mother]]'s or the [[father]]'s line of descent. With matrilineal descent individuals belong to their mother's descent group. ''Matrilineal descent'' includes the mother's brother, who in some societies may pass along [[inheritance]] to the sister's children or [[succession]] to a sister's son. With ''patrilineal descent'', [[individuals]] belong to their father's descent group. Societies with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois Iroquois] kinship system, are typically uniliineal, while the Iroquois proper are specifically matrilineal.

A ''descent group'' is a [[social]] [[group]] whose members claim [[common]] [[ancestry]]. A unilineal [[society]] is one in which the descent of an [[individual]] is reckoned either from the [[mother]]'s or the [[father]]'s line of descent. With matrilineal descent individuals belong to their mother's descent group. ''Matrilineal descent'' includes the mother's brother, who in some societies may pass along [[inheritance]] to the sister's children or [[succession]] to a sister's son. With ''patrilineal descent'', [[individuals]] belong to their father's descent group. Societies with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois Iroquois] kinship system, are typically uniliineal, while the Iroquois proper are specifically matrilineal.

In a [[society]] which reckons descent bilaterally (bilineal), descent is reckoned through both father and mother, without unilineal descent groups. Societies with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo Eskimo] kinship system, like the Eskimo proper, are typically bilateral. The egocentrid kindred group is also typical of bilateral societies.

In a [[society]] which reckons descent bilaterally (bilineal), descent is reckoned through both father and mother, without unilineal descent groups. Societies with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eskimo Eskimo] kinship system, like the Eskimo proper, are typically bilateral. The egocentrid kindred group is also typical of bilateral societies.

Some [[societies]] reckon descent patrilineally for some [[purposes]], and matrilineally for others. This arrangement is sometimes called double descent. For instance, certain [[property]] and titles may be inherited through the [[male]] line, and others through the [[female]] line.

Some [[societies]] reckon descent patrilineally for some [[purposes]], and matrilineally for others. This arrangement is sometimes called double descent. For instance, certain [[property]] and titles may be inherited through the [[male]] line, and others through the [[female]] line.

Societies can also consider descent to be ambilineal (such as Hawaiian kinship) where offspring determine their lineage through the matrilineal line or the patrilineal line.

Societies can also consider descent to be ambilineal (such as Hawaiian kinship) where offspring determine their lineage through the matrilineal line or the patrilineal line.

 

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]

[[Category: Anthropology]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]