Cover of The Genetical Theory, Variorum Edition. See footnotes for detailed caption.

The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection is a book by Ronald Fisher. It was first published in 1930 by Clarendon. It is one of the most important books of the modern evolutionary synthesis and is obligatorily cited in biology books. The great biologist W. D. Hamilton noted on the cover of the 1999 variorum edition: {{{msg:fairuse}}} File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... {{{msg:fairuse}}} File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Sir Ronald Fisher Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher, FRS (February 17, 1890 – July 29, 1962) was an evolutionary biologist, geneticist and statistician. ... 1930 is a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The modern evolutionary synthesis (often referred to simply as the modern synthesis), neo-Darwinian synthesis or neo-Darwinism, brings together Charles Darwins theory of the evolution of species by natural selection with Gregor Mendels theory of genetics as the basis for biological inheritance. ... This article is about the British biologist Bill Hamilton. ...

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.

Poignantly, Hamilton would "ultimately graduate" in 2000. Etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stŭdērĕ, which means to direct ones zeal at; hence a student is one who directs zeal at a subject. ... The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest in the English-speaking world, after Oxford University. ... A Bachelor of Arts (B.A. or A.B.) is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or program in the arts and/or sciences. ... The 1859 edition of On the Origin of Species First published in 1859, The Origin of Species (full title On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life) by British naturalist Charles Darwin is one of the pivotal... The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex by British naturalist Charles Darwin was first published in 1871. ...

Editions

A second slightly revised edition was republished 1958. In 1999 a third variorum edition (ISBN 0198504403), 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. 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Chapters

It contains the following chapters:

1. The Nature of Inheritance link (pdf) (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ridley/classictexts/fisher1.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 file) (http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/ridley/classictexts/fisher2.asp)
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

The book is notable for a discussion of Fisher's fundamental theorem of natural selection. The last five chapters include Fisher's more idiosyncratic views on eugenics. In population genetics, Ronald Fishers fundamental theorem of natural selection was originally stated as: The rate of increase in fitness of any organism at any time is equal to its genetic variance in fitness at that time. ... The word eugenics (from the Greek εὐγενής, for well-born) was coined in 1883 by Sir Francis Galton, a cousin of Charles Darwin, to refer to the study and use of selective breeding (of animals or humans) to improve a species over generations, specifically in regards to hereditary features. ...

Dedication

The book is dedicated to Major Leonard Darwin, Fisher's friend and correspondent and son of Charles Darwin. Major Leonard Darwin (15 January 1850 — 26 March 1943) was the fourth son and eighth child of Charles and Emma Darwin. ... Charles Darwin, about the same time as the publication of The Origin of Species. ...

See also

• Genetics
• Natural selection

Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ... Alternative meaning Natural Selection (computer game). ...

Footnotes

¹ Cover depicts mimicry in the Lepidoptera: from top: (1) the unpalatable red passion flower butterfly (Heliconus erato erato) and (2) a mimic moth of it, Pericopes phyleis, from Peru: (3) Methona confusa and a mimic moth of it, (4) Castnia linus, from Paraguay. These illustrations were originally in the 1930 frontispiece (figs 4-7). Families About 130 - see text The Lepidoptera is the second largest order of insects comprising butterflies, skippers, and moths. ... Lepidopteran on a flower. ... Lepidopteran on a flower. ...