Supporting Evolution Snippets from New Scientist

Can mutation really lead to the evolution of new species?

Yes. Several species of abalone shellfish have evolved due to mutations in the protein "key" on the surface of sperm that binds to a "lock" on the surface of eggs. This might appear impossible, but it turns out that some eggs are prepared to be penetrated by deviant sperm. The same thing can happen in fruit flies, and likely in many other groups too. In yeasts, the mutations that led to some new species forming have not only been identified, they have even been reversed.

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/dn13673-evolution-myths-mutations-can-only-destroy-information.html

Organisms do not always hang about waiting for a helpful mutation to occur. For instance, the parasite that causes sleeping sickness has thousands of spare genes for its coat proteins, which it mixes and matches to generate new coats faster than its host's immune system can keep up.

More controversially, a few biologists think some microbes may have evolved mechanisms for boosting the mutation rate in specific genes when they are struggling to cope with a changing environment, or for "storing up" variation for when it is needed

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/dn13698-evolution-myths-evolution-is-random.html

It won't be long (hopefully pre-2012) before a prominent scientist dares to suggest that we evolve the the way our DNA chooses, into new species.