Adaptation as organism design

Andy Gardner*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

107 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The problem of adaptation is to explain the apparent design of organisms. Darwin solved this problem with the theory of natural selection. However, population geneticists, whose responsibility it is to formalize evolutionary theory, have long neglected the link between natural selection and organismal design. Here, I review the major historical developments in theory of organismal adaptation, clarifying what adaptation is and what it is not, and I point out future avenues for research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)861-864
Number of pages4
JournalBiology Letters
Volume5
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Dec 2009

Keywords

  • Darwinism
  • natural selection
  • population genetics
  • optimization

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