Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, have genetically engineered mice with the human version of FOXP2, a gene connected to the development of language.

As part of its "Big Questions" series, The Templeton Foundation asked some of the leading figures in science and religion whether evolution alone offers a suitable explanation for human nature.

Despite its monumental reputation and importance in unifying the life-sciences by popularizing the theory of natural selection, On the Origin of Species rarely finds itself in many summer "to read" piles.

At The BioLogos Forum, we welcome both critical and supportive voices, but request that all posts offer something relevant to the posted topic, and not simply be inflammatory accusations or lengthy, unrelated monologues. Our goal is to assure discussions stay civil, open, and balanced.

How did the modern domesticated house cat -- beloved pet and subject of countless artworks, movies, and internet memes -- evolve from its more wild brethren?

The University of Chicago biologist Jerry Coyne recently objected to the suggestion that humans might actually be a part of God's creative plan.

With the exciting announcement of the Darwinius massilae fossil this week, evolution has been a popular topic around the internet. However, a lot of questions and misconceptions about evolution have also surfaced. Is there any real "proof" for evolution?

With science becoming increasingly more capable at explaining both us and our world, what place is left for religion? After all, as many nonbelievers assert, doesn't the church continue to exist only because of the indoctrination of children, who eventually should grow up and desert their childish beliefs?

Could the fossil above, revealed to the public today at a news conference, be the long sought after "missing link" for evolution that some news outlets are claiming?

My granddaughter Sara is six years old. About six months ago, her mom called to tell me Sara wanted to talk about some theological concepts. She put Sara on the phone, and I was peppered with questions like, "Who made God?" and "Where is heaven?"

For 20 years, the question of how nucleotides, the building blocks of both RNA and DNA, could have spontaneously formed during the beginning of our planet has beguiled researchers. The problem seemed so insurmountable, in fact, that in 1999 two leading researchers, Gerald Joyce and Leslie Orgel, remarked the spontaneous appearance of nucleotides "would have been a near miracle."

If St. Augustine of Hippo were alive today to read Darwin's On the Origin of Species, would he consider it the faith-destroying work that many evangelical Christians accuse it of being?

Can there be meaningful interaction between the realms of science and religion? Many would argue that the two live in different worlds, and encompass completely different worldviews.

Genesis 1:26-27 reads: "Then God said, `Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Acts of altruism seem to pose a problem to the idea of a strict "survival of the fittest." Why would a man risk everything to protect thousands of Jews from Nazi forces during World War II, ultimately dying penniless?

The Galileo affair, depicted above in a painting by Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury, is a favorite example of how science and religion are destined to be in perpetual conflict.

"We can look high or we can look low in books or in journals, but the result is the same. The scientific literature has no answers to the question of the origin of the immune system."

The image is of Barnard 72, known as the "Snake Nebula" because of the dark snake-like pattern it forms. The shape comes from a concentration of dust and dark matter that blocks escaping visible light. Most likely, these mysterious dark clouds are the birth place for new stars.

What is the most fascinating question in all of science?

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." - Psalm 19:1