Comment: Sorry, but I am not asking

Sorry, but I am not asking about the origins of the first self replicating forms, but the subsequent evolution of the various forms. To be frank, I am amazed at apparently scientifically literate individuals inability to comprehend so simple a question. Usually, when i ask this of friends in science, they give me clear answers (though not always the same answer). Perhaps they offer random variation (what some might call dumb luck) as a class of things from which selection takes place. Or random genetic mutations or gene shuffling during reproduction... but they offer something(s) that produces variation that can then be acted upon by natural selection.

This is mind boggling - and a bit funny.