Overview

Although evolution was not an altogether new topic, Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) brought it into the limelight in 1859 with the publication of his On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. His hypothesis that current species evolved from past species by the flexible and non-rigid pathway of natural selection brought him enormous praise, but also much criticism. Since then, scientists have learned about genetics and the role that genes and mutations play in natural selection, and have continued to provide confirmation of Darwin's ideas. Despite the considerable scientific evidence, evolution is still under fire from some present-day critics, who believe the theory flies in the face of religious beliefs.

Background

Many scientists had a hand in developing what is now termed the theory of evolution...