The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection

The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection is a book by R.A. Fisher. It was first published in 1930 by Clarendon. It is one of the most important books of the modern evolutionary synthesis and is commonly cited in biology books.

Editions

A second slightly revised edition was republished 1958. In 1999 a third variorum edition (ISBN 0-19-850440-3), with the original 1930 text, annotated with the 1958 alterations, notes and alterations accidentally omitted from the second edition was published, being edited by Henry Bennett.

Chapters

It contains the following chapters:

1. The Nature of Inheritance link (pdf)
2. The Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection
3. The Evolution of Dominance
4. Variation as determined by Mutation and Selection
5. Variation etc
6. Sexual Reproduction and Sexual Selection link (pdf)
7. Mimicry
8. Man and Society
9. The Inheritance of Human Fertility
10. Reproduction in Relation to Social Class
11. Social Selection of Fertility
12. Conditions of Permanent Civilization

Contents

In the preface, Fisher considers some general points, including that there must be an understanding of natural selection distinct from that of evolution, and that the then recent advances in the field of genetics (see history of genetics) now allowed this. The first chapter Fisher considers the nature of inheritance, rejecting blending inheritance in favour of particulate inheritance. The second chapter introduces Fisher's fundamental theorem of natural selection. The third considers the evolution of dominance, which Fisher believed was strongly influenced by modifiers. The last five chapters (8-12) include Fisher's more idiosyncratic views on eugenics.

Dedication

The book is dedicated to Major Leonard Darwin, Fisher's friend and correspondent and son of Charles Darwin, "In gratitude for the encouragement, given to the author, during the last fifteen years, by discussing many of the problems dealt with in this book".

Reviews

Henry Bennett gives an account of the writing and reception of Fisher's Genetical Theory

Sewall Wright, who had many disagreements with Fisher, reviewing the book wrote that it was "certain to take rank as one of the major contributions to the theory of evolution". J.B.S. Haldane described it as "brilliant". Reginald Punnett was negative however '.

The Genetical Theory was largely overlooked for 40 years and in particular the fundamental theorem was misunderstood. The work had a great effect on W.D. Hamilton who discovered it as an undergraduate at Oxford, who noted on the rear cover of the 1999 variorum edition:

This is a book which, as a student, I weighed as of equal importance to the entire rest of my undergraduate Cambridge BA course and, through the time I spent on it, I think it notched down my degree. Most chapters took me weeks, some months.

...And little modified even by molecular genetics, Fisher's logic and ideas still underpin most of the ever broadening paths by which Darwinism continues its invasion of human thought.

Unlike in 1958, natural selection has become part of the syllabus of our intellectual life and the topic is certainly included in every decent course in biology.

For a book that I rate only second in importance in evolution theory to Darwin's Origin (this as joined with its supplement Of Man), and also rate as undoubtedly one of the greatest books of the twentieth century the appearance of a variorum edition is a major event...

By the time of my ultimate graduation, will I have understood all that is true in this book and will I get a First? I doubt it. In some ways some of us have overtaken Fisher; in many, however, this brilliant, daring man is still far in front.

The publication of the variorum edition in 1999 led to renewed interest in the work and reviews by Laurence Cook ("This is perhaps the most important book on evolutionary genetics ever written"), Jim Crow and A.W.F. Edwards

See also

• Genetics
• Natural selection

External links

• http://www.openlibrary.org/details/geneticaltheoryo031631mbp (full text of 1930 edition in Open Library)