Evolution! Since its inception, the theory has spread both controversy and a new way of viewing our role on the planet. Where do the facts end and the fictions begin?

There are actually two different lines of thought on the matter. Phyletic gradualism holds that speciation takes place constantly and over long periods of time. Punctuated equilibrium, on the other hand, involves quick jumps and starts, with long periods of time between the changes.

Don't rule out the possibility of a hideous, devolved future for humanity just yet. Human culture has introduced various limiting factors into natural selection. Evidence suggests that the human brain may still be evolving, but the end results of this evolution could be positive, negative or something genuinely posthuman.

Science fiction tales such as "Planet of the Apes" and "The Time Machine" revel in the possibility that man could devolve into more primitive forms. What does science say about the possible future existence of morlocks?

Yes, parallel evolution is a reality. Just look at the flying phalanger of Australia. Its physiology is very similar to that of a flying squirrel. Even though the two animals are only distantly related, both creatures wound up taking surprisingly similar evolutionary paths.

While Charles Darwin didn't actually set out across the moors with a six-shooter and a bandolier of silver bullets, his theories emphasized the link between man and ape. Consequently, the idea of a man reverting into a wolf became all the more laughable. As a result, the likes of Brian Regal, assistant professor of the history of science at New Jersey’s Kean University, have argued that the spread of Darwin's theory caused a vast decrease in reports of lycanthropy and an increase in global ape-man sightings.

Although there's nothing inherently evil about a scientific theory, evolution was used to promote, in social Darwinism's case, a push for the abandonment of charity and compassion, as these arguably interfered with natural selection. Eugenics advocates took this concept even further, arguing that we should help remove the weak from the gene pool.

Despite the popular story told by contemporary British evangelist "Lady Hope" (and retold to this day in e-mail forwards), Darwin's own son refuted her account. It seems the naturalist recounted neither his life's work nor his agnostic beliefs as he lay dying.

Yes, in February 2009, Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, said that while the Catholic Church had been hostile to Darwin's theory in the past, evolutionary thought could be traced to Catholic saints Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.

Actually, the Scopes Monkey Trial revolved around Dayton County high school teacher John Scopes and his decision to teach evolution in the classroom. The state of Tennessee argued that this violated the Butler Act, which made it unlawful to teach evolution in any state-funded educational establishment in Tennessee.

Yes, it all comes down to mutation. An organism's DNA mutates, or changes, over time in response to environmental stimuli. These changes are beneficial, harmful or neutral. Over time, these changes cause organisms to develop into new species.

The world's great thinkers have been pondering evolutionary issues since as early as the 6th century, but scientists are still working out all the holes in our understanding of just how evolution works.

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