Several decades ago, the cellular process known as “DNA repair” was not even suspected. But since then, investigation of genetic functions has increasingly revealed a system that is mind-bogglingly elegant, minute, and effective.

By Brian Thomas, M. S. and Christine Dao*

Bacteria capable of metabolizing nylon were discovered in the 1970s. Nylon is a man-made substance that was developed in the 20th century. Since bacteria had not been exposed to it before then, could their new capacity to consume nylon positively demonstrate evolutionary progress?

Although the jury is still out on the creation/evolution debate in the scientific and public policy arenas, media and pop culture present evolutionary assumptions and theories as though they were scientific fact in everything from casual references to featured articles. A recent issue of U.S.

In South Africa, special “mirid bugs” make their homes in sticky, living-flypaper plants, feeding on other insects that get trapped in the plants’ leaf-secreted glue. How do they avoid getting stuck themselves?