Natural selection is the key concept in the evolution story explaining the existence of living objects and their properties. The concept of natural selection must also be taught to be understood, but misconceptions persist, even after instruction. Researchers found the root of their perplexity in children; they have an innate, natural, intuitive, and unlearned tendency to reason about the world as biblical creationists do. Therefore, to avoid an ongoing impediment to scientific literacy, researchers suggest that educators challenge the reasoning of children as early as possible. A survey of the scientific evidence in the first part of the paper leads to another conclusion: creationist tendencies are inescapable; evolutionary education masks or suppresses rather than replaces them. The second part of the paper focuses on brain-based learning and education. The literature indicates that educators' conception of the brain also conflicts with children's understanding of human nature. Two ways to avoid this are discussed.