Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary ThoughtBiological evolution is a fact—but the many conflicting theories of evolution remain controversial even today. When Adaptation and Natural Selection was first published in 1966, it struck a powerful blow against those who argued for the concept of group selection—the idea that evolution acts to select entire species rather than individuals. Williams’s famous work in favor of simple Darwinism over group selection has become a classic of science literature, valued for its thorough and convincing argument and its relevance to many fields outside of biology. Now with a new foreword by Richard Dawkins, Adaptation and Natural Selection is an essential text for understanding the nature of scientific debate. |
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - amarcobio - LibraryThingThis is a must read for evolutionists. This book is known for introducing the concept of gene-centric evolution, which was later on developed by Dawkins (the selfish gene). But it is much more than ... Read full review
Contents
1 INTRODUCTION | 3 |
2 NATURAL SELECTION ADAPTATION AND PROGRESS ... | 20 |
3 NATURAL SELECTION ECOLOGY AND MORPHOGENESIS ... | 56 |
4 GROUP SELECTION | 92 |
5 ADAPTATIONS OF THE GENETIC SYSTEM | 125 |
6 REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR | 158 |
Other editions - View all
Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary ... George Christopher Williams No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
activities adjustments adult advantage alleles alternative animals apparent assume basis become behavior believe benefit biologists biotic adaptation birds breeding cause chapter complex concept considered contribute depend designed discussed ecological effect effort eggs environment evidence evolution evolutionary evolved example expected explained extinction extreme factor favor fecundity female fishes fitness force frequency function gametophyte gene genetic genic genotype goal greater group selection higher human imply important increase indicated individuals insects interpretation kind later least less limited male mean measure mechanisms merely mortality mutation natural selection necessary nesting normal observed offspring organisms origin parents perhaps plants population possible precisely predator probably problem produce progress rates reason recognize relative reproductive response result sex ratio sexual sexual reproduction social species stage structure success term territory theory tion usually young
Bibliographic information
| Title | Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought Princeton Science Library |
| Author | George Christopher Williams |
| Contributor | Richard Dawkins |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Princeton University Press, 2018 |
| ISBN | 0691185506, 9780691185507 |
| Length | 328 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / Life Sciences / Evolution |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |