R.A. Fisher's gene-centred view of evolution and the Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection

Abstract

The background to R.A. Fisher's enunciation of his Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection in 1930 is traced and the Theorem in its original form explained. It can now be seen as the centrepiece of Fisher's introduction of the gene-centred approach to evolutionary biology. Although this paper is a sequel to Edwards (1994) it is not a review of the recent literature on the Theorem, to which, however, reference is made at the end.

Keywords: Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection; R.A. Fisher; gene's-eye view.