usgrant- I found some links for you, the first is a general evolution, very broad, and might not serve much purpose:
http://www.tufts.edu/as/wright_cente...e_summary.html
I think raytri went over most of the basics in the other thread, but it is important to differentiate chemical evolution, and biological evolution. (and mutations from hereditary traits, more speciation involves genes/traits than actual mutations)
Here is one I found more credible on chem. evolution -
http://science.jrank.org/pages/1387/...Evolution.html
Look up Stanley Miller's experiments/RNA hypothesis for further information on the subject.
Note the RNA hypothesis is only a theory, because it is very hard to synthesize ribose (main sugar in RNA) from compounds which are thought to have existed in the early atmosphere.