Based on presentations by the world-renowned investigators who gathered at the 74th annual Cold Spring Harbor Symposium to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, this volume reviews the latest advances in research into evolution, focusing on the molecular bases for evolutionary change. The topics covered include the appearance of the first genetic material, the origins of cellular life, evolution and development, selection and adaptation, and genome evolution. Human origins, cognition, and cultural evolution are also covered, along with social interactions.