Moderate

Which of the following scientists contributed a lot to "modern synthetic theory of organic evolution:

Correct answer: D. All of above

  • A. Theodosius Dobzhansky 1937
  • B. Fischer 1958
  • C. Wright 1968
  • D. All of above

Explanation

The correct answer is: All of the above. All three scientists mentioned-Theodosius Dobzhansky, R.A. Fisher, and Sewall Wright-made significant contributions to the modern synthetic theory of organic evolution, also known as the modern evolutionary synthesis or the neo-Darwinian synthesis. This theory combines principles of Mendelian genetics with Darwinian natural selection to explain the process of evolution. Theodosius Dobzhansky (1937): Dobzhansky was a prominent geneticist and evolutionary biologist who played a pivotal role in integrating genetics and evolutionary biology. In his book "Genetics and the Origin of Species," published in 1937, Dobzhansky presented evidence from experiments with fruit flies that supported the idea of natural selection acting on genetic variation, which he viewed as the driving force behind evolution. He emphasized the importance of mutations and genetic recombination in generating genetic diversity, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments. R.A. Fisher (1958): Ronald A. Fisher was a British statistician and geneticist who made significant contributions to the understanding of natural selection and population genetics. In his book "The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection," published in 1930, Fisher provided a mathematical framework for understanding how genetic variation and natural selection interact to drive evolutionary change. He developed statistical methods to analyze data and test hypotheses related to evolutionary processes. Fisher's work laid the foundation for population genetics and helped unify genetics and natural selection within evolutionary theory. Sewall Wright (1968): Sewall Wright was an American geneticist and evolutionary biologist who contributed to the understanding of population genetics and the role of genetic drift in evolution. He developed the concept of "adaptive landscape," which illustrated how populations navigate through genetic space in response to selection pressures. Wright also proposed the concept of "genetic drift," highlighting the role of chance events in shaping the genetic composition of populations. His work emphasized the importance of population structure and small population size in influencing evolutionary outcomes. Together, these scientists, along with other contributors, helped integrate ideas from genetics, population biology, and natural selection, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding the process of evolution. Their work formed the basis of the modern synthetic theory of organic evolution, which remains a foundational concept in evolutionary biology today.

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About Evolution

Evolution describes heritable change in populations over generations through variation, natural selection and adaptation. Lamarckism explains inheritance of acquired characteristics, while Darwinism explains selection of favourable inherited variations; these historical explanations must not be confused with the modern genetic account of evolutionary change.

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