[RWebb]

biological evolution = genetic change in populations of organisms over time; individuals do not evolve, pop'ns do

many changes in outward appearance or behavior (phenotype) may NOT be due to changes at the genetic level

humans are still evolving, yes

even "after you quit having babies" you can still affect evolution of your lineage - providing child care to relatives (who share your genes) is the most obvious way - it is called kin selection

if all organisms have equal ability to pass on their genes, then there is no selection

even if all selection were zero, evolution could still continue due to genetic recombination (the reshuffling of the genome), by the mating system (different from some not mating as well as others -- that is a type of selection) and by "mutation pressure"

It takes me 4 months to teach this to a biology grad. student (who already has majored in biology) so please understand that it is not the simplest thing in the world...

I hope you all have a highly evolved holiday