What is the benefit? How does random mutation transform underdogs into thriving winners? What is more important for evolution - war or cooperation? The book by Alexander Markov and Elena Naimark talks about the latest research by molecular geneticists and the findings of paleontologists who provide answers to these and many other questions about modifications in nature. Thousands of discoveries made since the time of Darwin confirm the guesses of the founders of the theory of evolution; new data in no way destroys the foundations of evolutionary theory, but, on the contrary, only strengthens them. Alexander Markov, head of the department of biological evolution of the Faculty of Biology of Moscow State University, and Elena Naimark, leading researcher at the Paleontological Institute. A. A. Borisyak are famous scientists and popularizers of science. The two-volume book “Human Evolution” (2011), co-written by them, has become a reference book not only for students and biologists, but also for many people outside the professional community.