End result? A case study in the Lancet. Of course...

Being as I already have the proper shape, there is no way an artificial beer belly can improve upon my splendidly rotund physique. However, this also means that I can't use one to sneak beer into the movie theater.

But, for you less well-endowed types, this could be a great way to bring your favorite liquid refreshments into places where they would prefer you not do so.

Finally, beer has been added to the list of good stuff that is known to be good for you. Jeff Taylor says this is proof there is a god. I would argue, except the fact it has to be good beer before it works kind of takes the wind out of my sails.

(Or maybe it is just the yeast that loves us?)

(Something to think about this Fourth of July, as you suck down a few brewskis and watch the fireworks.)

So, how does evolution happen anyway? The pat answer is "A gene mutation occurs which is favorable, so the new plant or animal has a better chance to breed."

But, like all pat answers, it doesn't really explain the process. And it is more than a bit wrong: Due to something called 'stabilising pressure' genes tend to sort of un-mutate, unless there is another copy of the gene free to do something different.

According to P. Z. Myers we have exactly this process to thank for beer! It appears that making alcohol was the original purpose of a set of yeast genes, because alcohol is a poison it let the yeast grow without competition. Then a copy of that gene later came up with some new tricks.