ABSTRACT
Darwin’s mechanism for evolution provides an explanation for how variation within species changes over time, but it does not explain how new variation is created and passed down to descendent generations. Our understanding of the nature of variation and inheritance has increased dramatically in the past century, particularly in the last half of the twentieth century, during which our understanding of the molecular basis of biology greatly expanded. Our knowledge is increasing at an ever-faster pace during the early years of the twenty-first century. We have learned that biological processes and structures are determined by the underlying chemistry of life, and that what is passed down through inheritance is a set of chemical blueprints for the body plan of living organisms.
