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. 1985 May;72(5):231-6.
doi: 10.1007/BF00448683.

[Natural selection]

[Article in German]
E Mayr

[Natural selection]

[Article in German]
E Mayr. Naturwissenschaften. 1985 May.

Abstract

Much of the resistance against Darwin's theory of natural selection has been due to misunderstandings. It is shown that natural selection is not a tautology and that it is a two-step process. The first step, the production of variation, is under the control of chance; the second step, selection proper, is an anti-chance process, but subject to many constraints. The target of selection is the individual as a whole, and many neutral mutations can be retained as hitchhikers of successful genotypes. Sexual selection results from selection for pure reproductive success.

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References

    1. Am Sci. 1974 Nov-Dec;62(6):692-701 - PubMed
    1. Acta Biotheor. 1975;24(3-4):136-62 - PubMed

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