The left-hand side of the Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection: A reply
Autor: | Warren J. Ewens, Sabin Lessard |
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Rok vydání: | 2019 |
Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Statistics and Probability Statement (logic) Population 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology 03 medical and health sciences medicine Selection Genetic education 030304 developmental biology Confusion Mathematics 0303 health sciences education.field_of_study Natural selection Models Genetic General Immunology and Microbiology Fundamental theorem Applied Mathematics General Medicine Rate of increase Modeling and Simulation medicine.symptom General Agricultural and Biological Sciences Mathematical economics |
Zdroj: | Journal of Theoretical Biology. 472:77-83 |
ISSN: | 0022-5193 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.04.014 |
Popis: | In a recent paper, Grafen (2018) discussed the left-hand side in the equation stating Fisher’s (1930, 1958) “Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection” (FTNS). Fisher’s original statement of the FTNS is, in effect, “The rate of increase in fitness of any organism is equal to its genetic variance in fitness at that time” with the rate of increase in fitness understood as the one “due to all changes in gene ratios” (Fisher, 1930, p. 35). For purposes of exposition, Grafen (2018) considered what is today called the analogous discrete-time model, and restated the FTNS on p. 181 as “The increase in population [mean fitness] due to changes in gene frequencies [is equal to the] additive genetic variance in fitness [divided by the] mean fitness”. Allowing for the fact that Grafen’s statement of the FTNS relates to a discrete-time model, his statement is in effect a discrete-time version of Fisher’s. It has however been widely accepted for many years, ever since Price’s (1972) deep analysis of the FTNS, that Fisher’s wording does not correctly describe the content of the FTNS. The same is therefore true of Grafen’s statement. The confusion caused by these misstatements is unfortunate and adds to a continuing misunderstanding of the FTNS, whose source can also be found in Fisher’s (1941) own explanation. Our purpose is to review the detailed analysis of the calculations leading to the FTNS to clarify the points at issue. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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