Genetic variance

Ronald Fisher in 1913

Genetic variance is a concept outlined by the English biologist and statistician Ronald Fisher in his fundamental theorem of natural selection. In his 1930 book The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection, Fisher postulates that the rate of change of biological fitness can be calculated by the genetic variance of the fitness itself.[1] Fisher tried to give a statistical formula about how the change of fitness in a population can be attributed to changes in the allele frequency. Fisher made no restrictive assumptions in his formula concerning fitness parameters, mate choices or the number of alleles and loci involved.[2]

  1. ^ Crow, JF (2002). "Perspective: Here's to Fisher, additive genetic variance, and the fundamental theorem of natural selection". Evolution. 56 (7): 1313–6. doi:10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[1313:phstfa]2.0.co;2. PMID 12206233. S2CID 198157405.
  2. ^ Fisher's Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection Revisited by Sabin Lessard