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. 2009;8(2):13.
doi: 10.1186/jbiol117. Epub 2009 Feb 23.

Mayr, mathematics and the study of evolution

James F Crow  1
Affiliations

Mayr, mathematics and the study of evolution

James F Crow. J Biol. 2009.

Abstract

In 1959 Ernst Mayr challenged the relevance of mathematical models to evolutionary studies and was answered by JBS Haldane in a witty and convincing essay. Fifty years on, I conclude that the importance of mathematics has in fact increased and will continue to do so.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Ernst Mayr (1904–2005). Photograph reproduced with permission from the Archives of the Ernst Mayr Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) R A Fisher (1890–1962), (b) Sewall Wright (1889–1988) Photograph reproduced with permission from The Capitol Times, and (c) J B S Haldane (1892–1964).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • The light of evolution.
    Robertson M. Robertson M. J Biol. 2009;8(2):10. doi: 10.1186/jbiol124. Epub 2009 Feb 27. J Biol. 2009. PMID: 19476607 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. Mayr E. Where are we? Cold Spring Harbor Symp Quant Biol. 1959;24:1–14.
    1. Haldane JBS. A defence of beanbag genetics. Perspect Biol Med. 1964;7:343–359. - PubMed
    1. Mayr E. Populations, Species, and Evolution. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; 1970.
    1. Crow JF. Felix Bernstein and the first human marker locus. Genetics. 1993;133:4–7. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Barton NH, Charlesworth B. Genetic revolutions, founder effects, and speciation. Annu Rev Ecol Syst. 1984;15:133–164. doi: 10.1146/annurev.es.15.110184.001025. - DOI

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