It is considered the most compelling question in history: where do human beings come from? Life has existed for millions of years, but only in the past two centuries have we started using science to illuminate the roots of our species.

In 1856 the bones of an extinct ancestor were unearthed in Western Europe and found to be more than 40,000 years old. A few years later, Charles Darwin's The Origin Of Species explicated evolution, creating a controversial and hotly contested debate. Ape To Man chronicles the discoveries and theories that have led to our current understanding of evolution, including discarded populations, a elaborate hoax that baffled science, and the key elements that separate man from ape.

The History Channel narrates the ongoing quest for the origins of humanity - a search fueled by courage, commitment and the desire for truth.