The nature of selection. (Written circa 1971, published posthumously)

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Theoretical Biology
• Mathematical Modeling

Background:

• George R. Price's posthumously published work.
• The need for a unified framework for understanding selection processes.
• Dr. Price's significant contributions to evolutionary genetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose the development of a general "Mathematical Theory of Selection."
• To unify diverse selection types (chemical, sociological, genetical) under one theoretical model.
• To outline the potential properties and necessity of a general selection theory.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework development.
• Argumentation for a unified theory.
• Exploration of theoretical properties.

Main Results:

• A conceptual model for a unified theory of selection is proposed.
• The necessity and potential characteristics of such a theory are discussed.
• The paper lays groundwork for a general mathematical theory of selection.

Conclusions:

• A unified mathematical theory of selection is a necessary and achievable goal.
• Such a theory could have broad applications across scientific disciplines.
• This work highlights the potential for a general theory analogous to communication theory.