I went to church schools and learned about evolution from age 5, when it was carefully explained that the book of Genesis was written before modern scientific knowledge developed. I never met a creationist till after I left university - now they seem to be everywhere!

Frances , London,

Evolution, what a ridiculous religion. Evolutionists require more faith to believe Darwin's unproven and unprovable theory than it does for someone to believe in gnomes and fairies.

Hanky M Tompkins, Morehead City, NC

Sigh* Just because you mouthbreathing knuckle-draggers keep trying raise your religous drivel into the discourse doesn't mean that it's true. And for your information..... "God did it" isn't evidence.

Johan, Stockholm, Sweden

"played a part in the development of opposable thumbs ... characteristics that set humans apart from chimps"

But don't chimps have opposable thumbs, though?

Perry Stalsis, Toronto, Canada

Scientific understanding is based on objective observation and rigorous testing of theories; creationism selectively aligns the facts to support religious superstition - and we all know that the selective use of evidence can be used to "prove" almost anything. The two are not of equal status.

Michael, Norwich, England

Scientists seem to keep thinking they've understood almost everything. They need to find the gene that does that and do something about it.

Richard Warwick, Croydon,

So, basically what this shows is that there are differences between chimps and man. Thats it, nothing else. That is the evidence.

The INTERPRETATION of the eveidence depends on whether you look at the evidence with evolutionary glasses or creation glasses.

Same evidence, different conclusions.

Dr Steve, Lethbridge, Alberta

A fact may be proposed and argued from available evidence but it does not mean that it is true.

One may argue that evolution is a fact but there is still not enough evidence to show it is true.

The evidence for creation is the same as that for evolution
ie. the earth and everything in it.

Martin, Skye,

No, no, no, those scientists are just wrong: God made people just the way they are from a piece of clay. Sorry, I mean he made men that way and then made a woman out of the man's rib.

You scientists with your crazy ideas!

MB, Edinburgh ,

Evolution is a fact. No evidence to the contrary has ever been provided. Creative Design is a belief held by some without evidence. It is similar to the belief in the Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas.

pete t, bristol, england

yes Calum, much like saying Aberdeen is a hypothesis.

Facts may be gathered to extrapolate the most likely explanation. This has a foundation in philosophic thought and cartesian reasoning.

Unlike the fairy tales of the established church.

Golly, what a choice.

Dan Brooks, Austin, USA

What is the big advantage of the big toe?

Diana, Derby,

How is the human hand a marvel of evolution? Has not the discovery of DNA flawed the theory of evolution?

Shawn, Blackpool,

Why are so many 'scientific' conclusions presented as fact?
As always someone with a different take or 'theory' can just as easily use the same evidence interpreted scientifically to show that a completely different conclussion is as likely as that being presented as fact.

Evolution IS a theory

Calum, Aberdeen,

Apes evolved from monkeys. Humans are Apes.

Andy Barber, Sundridge, UK

We haven't evolved from monkeys, we share a common ancestor, for a start monkeys have tails.

We are however part of the great family Hominidae, but in sub species groups.

Calling chimps and apes monkeys is for informal usage, though they are not monkeys.

Darren, London, England

"may owe" "appear to be" "may be" " may well"
Lots of solid evidence there then.

How many more may bes do we need to establish the "fact" of evolution when observation of the incredible complexity in the simplest single celled organism indicates a creative designer?

Martin, Skye,

Of course we share a common ancestor with monkeys.

John, Whaley Bridge, UK

Are you trying to say that we came from monkeys?

D, Overland Park , USA