What use is evolution? Many people spend their whole lives carrying out research on evolutionary biology. Governments give scientists millions of pounds to do this research. Why?

Apart from the obvious enjoyment and intellectual benefit of understanding life and the world around us, our knowledge of how evolution works has practical applications. Amongst other things it can help treat diseases, tackle climate change and help us design new technologies.

It is so useful a whole new scientific journal has been set up especially for evolutionary applications, it's free to read online in 2009.