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Proof of Fischer's fundamental theorem of natural selection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2016

Atam Vetta
Atam Vetta*
Affiliation:
Oxford Polytechnic
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Extract

Fischer (1930) stated his fundamental theorem of natural selection (ftns) as ‘the rate of increase in fitness of any organism at any time is equal to its genetic (additive) variance in fitness at that time’. The theorem related to an idealised population and he thought that it held ‘the supreme position among the biological sciences’. His proof of the theorem is, however, not understood. This has given rise to questions concerning not only the validity of the proof but also concerning the importance of the theorem.

Type
Symposium on Mathematical Genetics, London, 26–27 March 1979
Information
Advances in Applied Probability , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , March 1980 , pp. 11 - 13
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 1980 

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References

Fisher, R. A. (1918) The correlation between relatives on the supposition of Mendelian inheritance. Trans. R. Soc. Edinburgh 52, 399–433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, R. A. (1930) The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Reprinted (1958) Dover, New York.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fisher, R. A. (1941) Average excess and average effect of a gene substitution. Ann. Eugen. 11, 53–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vetta, A. (1979) Average effect, average excess and additive variance.Google Scholar