The Science The intersection of genetics and evolutionary theory is currently one of the most active areas of scientific debate.  Whether mutations are "consistent" with evolution depends entirely on which mathematical model or biological scale you are looking at.  To provide a balanced view, we have to look at the evidence that supports the standard model and the specific genetic challenges that have been raised recently. The standard scientific view (Neo-Darwinism) holds that while most mutations are neutral or harmful, the rare "beneficial" ones are powerful enough to drive progress over millions of years.  Even if 99.9% of mutations are bad, natural selection acts as a "filter" and ruthlessly eliminates the bad ones and preserves the 0.1% that provide a survival advantage. Genetics has shown that sometimes an entire gene is accidentally copied. One copy keeps doing its original job, while the "extra" copy is free to mutate and eventually de...