The purpose of adaptation
Abstract
A central feature of Darwin’s theory of natural selection is that it explains the purpose of biological adaptation. Here, I: emphasise the scientific importance of understanding what adaptations are for, in terms of facilitating the derivation of empirically-testable predictions; discuss the population genetical basis for Darwin’s theory of the purpose of adaptation, with reference to the “fundamental theorem of natural selection”; and show that a deeper understanding of the purpose of adaptation is achieved in the context of social evolution, with reference to inclusive fitness and superorganisms.
Citation
Gardner , A 2017 , ' The purpose of adaptation ' , Interface Focus , vol. 7 , no. 5 , 20170005 . https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2017.0005
Publication
Interface Focus
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
2042-8898Type
Journal article
Collections
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