RONALD AYLMER FİSHER’IN “DOĞAL SEÇİLİMİN TEMEL TEOREMİ” ÜZERİNE TARİHSEL BİR İNCELEME

Öz

Bu çalışma, Ronald Aylmer Fisher’ın 1930 yılında yayınlanan The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection kitabında yer alan, “Herhangi bir organizmanın herhangi bir zamandaki uyum gücündeki artış oranı, o andaki uyum gücündeki genetik varyansına eşittir” şeklinde ifade edilen, “Doğal Seçilimin Temel Teoremi” (Kısaca: Teorem) olarak adlandırılan teoremi konu edinmektedir. Fisher bu teoremi biyoloji için bir yasa statüsünde görüp Teorem’e büyük önem atfetmiştir. Fakat tarihsel süreç içerisinde Teorem hem uzunca bir süre önemsenmemiş hem de birçok yanlış anlamaya maruz kalmıştır. Teorem’in matematiksel olarak doğruluğu ve biyoloji içerisinde bir düzenliliğe işaret ettiği konusunda ise Teorem ortaya konulduktan yaklaşık elli yıl sonra bir uzlaşıya varılmıştır. Nitekim uzlaşmaya varan, önde gelen bilimcilerden E. W. Ewens, 2024 yılında yayınlanan makalesinde fikrini değiştirmiş ve Teorem’in yanlış olduğunu ve literatürden yasaklanması gerektiğini öne sürmüştür. Fisher’ın Teorem’inin doğru olup olmadığı ve öneminin ne olduğu konusunda birçok belirsizlik vardır. Bu çalışmada, Fisher’ın Teorem’inin tarihsel arka planı, hangi koşullarda ortaya konulduğu, biyoloji tarihi içerisindeki serüveni ve Teorem’in biyoloji tarihinde tanıtılması amaçlanmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ronald Aylmer Fisher
• Natural Selection
• Charles Darwin
• Modern Synthesis
• Biology

A HISTORICAL STUDY ON RONALD AYLMER FISHER’S “FUNDAMENTAL THEOREM OF NATURAL SELECTION”

Abstract

This study examines the "Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection" (hereafter, the Theorem), first introduced by Ronald Aylmer Fisher in his 1930 book The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection. Fisher formulated the theorem as: "The rate of increase in fitness of any organism at any time is equal to its genetic variance in fitness at that time." He regarded this theorem as a biological law and attributed significant importance to it. Despite this, the theorem was largely overlooked and frequently misunderstood for decades. It was not until nearly fifty years after its publication that a consensus emerged confirming its mathematical validity and its indication of a biological regularity. Among those who supported this view was E. W. Ewens, a prominent geneticist. However, in a 2024 publication, Ewens reversed his position, arguing that the theorem is flawed and should be removed from scientific literature.The validity and significance of Fisher’s Theorem remain subjects of debate. This study aims to trace the historical background of the theorem, the context in which it emerged, its trajectory in the history of biology, and its reception and reinterpretation over time.

Keywords

• Ronald Aylmer Fisher
• Natural Selection
• Charles Darwin
• Modern Synthesis
• Biology

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