The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection (Hardcover)

~ (Author), J. H. Bennett (Editor) "THAT Charles Darwin accepted the fusion or blending theory of inheritance, just as all men accept many of the undisputed beliefs of their time, is..." (more)
Key Phrases: hen taste, selective intensities, permanent civilization, Great Britain, Professor Poulton, Sea Island (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This work is cited in Books for College Libraries, 3d ed. Fisher's original 1930 text is reproduced here in facsimile, including the original preface, table of contents, list of colored plates (here included as black and white) and text. Providing a synthesis of Darwinian selection and Mendelian genetics and marking a turning point in the development of evolutionary thought, this work is one of the most frequently cited references in modern evolutionary biology. Added to the facsimile is a brief foreword about Fisher and the work's reception. An appendix provides an annotated list of other papers on genetical theory by Fisher."--SciTech Book News

Product Description

This is the definitive edition of R.A. Fisher's classic work--probably the best known book in evolutionary biology after Darwin's Origin of Species. The book was the first attempt to assess and explain Darwin's evolutionary theories in terms of genetic evolution. Based on the original 1930 edition, the book incorporates the many changes Fisher made for the second edition as well as unpublished material taken from Fisher's own copy.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 318 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (April 20, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198504403
• ISBN-13: 978-0198504405
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #680,453 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An outdated classic, October 19, 2008

By	M. Pardee "flagmichael" (Flagstaff, AZ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book provided much of the theoretical foundation for the evolutionary theory known as the "modern synthesis," an attempt to reconcile Darwinian theory with Mendelian inheritance. It is written for the academic rather than for the lay reader.
Sadly, Fisher (a legend in mathematics for his contributions to statistics) did a poor job of digesting the consequences of Mendellian inheritance. He does an exquisite job of quantifying population dynamics but not of recognizing the practical implications of his equations.
For all that, this book is a staple of many college biology courses.