This year, the band Bad Religion marked its 30th anniversary. That would be a milestone for any group, but it’s practically unheard of within the punk rock community in which the LA sextet dwells.

Punk-folk singer Frank Turner, who covered the song “My Poor Friend Me’’ for the recent Bad Religion tribute compilation “Germs of Perfection,’’ ascribed the group’s longevity to a couple of factors.

First, he said, like all great bands, Bad Religion willingly tests new ideas.

“They’re not staying within any lines. A record like ‘Recipe for Hate’ broke new ground for the band after they had already defined a hard-core sound,’’ Turner said.

Second, Bad Religion is a powerful live act. Turner noted, “I always knew they were great songwriters, but they put on one hell of a show. Should I be lucky enough to reach a 30th anniversary, I hope that I can put on shows like the ones Bad Religion is doing.’’

Singer Greg Graffin, who was 15 years old when he formed Bad Religion with guitarist Brett Gurewitz and bassist Jay Bentley, also happens to hold his PhD in zoology and studies evolution. So to him, what Turner is saying may simply suggest that Bad Religion had traits suitable to survive natural selection.

Graffin explores the juncture of science and punk rock in his new book “Anarchy Evolution,’’ which came out the same day as Bad Religion’s 15th album, “The Dissent of Man.’’

His academic pursuits and musical endeavors grew simultaneously, at times forcing him to tell bandmates that he couldn’t go on tour because he had to do field work collecting fossils, while on other occasions informing colleagues from Cornell or UCLA that he’d be missing a conference because of a German rock festival where 30,000 kids were waiting for Bad Religion.

“The book became an exercise to prove I am not schizophrenic,’’ Graffin said.

“Anarchy Evolution’’ is unlike any other bit of rock lit or piece of science-for-the-masses you may have encountered, as it is also a memoir about growing up disaffected yet hungry for faith — faith absent of religion or any other authority Graffin deems suspicious.

“Our problem with religion has always been with its authoritative stance,’’ said Graffin, who points out in the book how the band’s “crossbuster’’ logo — a Christian cross overlaid by a red slash — is more about bashing dogma than criticizing anyone’s personal faith.