Evolution & the Genetics of Populations Vol. #2: The Theory of Gene Frequencies by Sewell Wright

Evolution & the Genetics of Populations Vol. #2: The Theory of Gene Frequencies by Sewell Wright

Format: Softcover, 511 pages

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press, 1969

ISBN: 0226910393

Condition: Good; Slight wear on covers; Text clear and clean.

Evolution and the Genetics of Populations, Volume 2: The Theory of Gene Frequencies by Sewall Wright is a cornerstone text in population genetics, detailing the mathematical and theoretical basis for how allele (gene) frequencies change in populations, exploring concepts like genetic drift, selection, and adaptation, forming part of Wright's influential multi-volume treatise on evolution. This lays the groundwork for understanding evolution through population-level changes, introducing ideas like his "shifting balance theory".

Focus on Gene Frequencies: Explains how gene frequencies (allele frequencies) shift due to evolutionary forces.

Mathematical Foundations: Builds the mathematical framework for population genetics, essential for serious students of evolution.

Broad Scope: Covers diploid organisms (like humans) but also considers haploids, sex-linked genes, and polyploids.

Major Contributions: Introduces concepts central to evolutionary theory, including his influential "Shifting Balance Theory," where small populations explore different adaptive peaks through genetic drift, potentially leading to novel adaptations.

Significance: This volume, part of a larger series, is considered fundamental for understanding modern evolutionary biology, providing deep insights into the mechanisms driving evolutionary change at the population level.