Is the fundamental theorem of natural selection of any use?
Abstract
There have been many recent discussions of the Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection, with an emphasis on its mathematical accuracy. It is argued here that, despite the mathematical problems that have been uncovered, it still has utility for biologists. In particular, it predicts an absence of additive genetic variance for fitness for populations at equilibrium under selection alone, a result that is valid under very general conditions. This raises the question as to why there are such high levels of additive variance in fitness and fitness components, but little evidence for nonadditive variance.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Game Theory and Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Evolution
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 880–882
- Publication date
- 30 January 2026
- Language
- EN