V.C. Wynne-Edwards
Encyclopedia
Vero Copner Wynne-Edwards CBE
, FRS, FRSE (4 July 1906 — 5 January 1997) was an English
zoologist best known for espousing group selection
, most notably in his 1962 book, Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behavior. In it, he argued that many behaviors are adaptations of the group, rather than adaptations of the individual, and that populations have adaptive self regulatory mechanisms. His arguments were vigorously criticised by George C. Williams
in his Adaptation and Natural Selection
, as well as by Richard Dawkins
in The Selfish Gene
.
His son Hugh Wynne-Edwards is a professor
of geology
, and his granddaughter Kathy Wynne-Edwards a professor of biology
at Queen's University
.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, FRS, FRSE (4 July 1906 — 5 January 1997) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
zoologist best known for espousing group selection
Group selection
In evolutionary biology, group selection refers to the idea that alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups, regardless of the alleles' effect on the fitness of individuals within that group....
, most notably in his 1962 book, Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behavior. In it, he argued that many behaviors are adaptations of the group, rather than adaptations of the individual, and that populations have adaptive self regulatory mechanisms. His arguments were vigorously criticised by George C. Williams
George C. Williams
Professor George Christopher Williams was an American evolutionary biologist.Williams was a professor emeritus of biology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He was best known for his vigorous critique of group selection. The work of Williams in this area, along with W. D...
in his Adaptation and Natural Selection
Adaptation and Natural Selection
Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought is a 1966 book by the American evolutionary biologist George C. Williams...
, as well as by Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
in The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene is a book on evolution by Richard Dawkins, published in 1976. It builds upon the principal theory of George C. Williams's first book Adaptation and Natural Selection. Dawkins coined the term "selfish gene" as a way of expressing the gene-centred view of evolution as opposed to the...
.
His son Hugh Wynne-Edwards is a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, and his granddaughter Kathy Wynne-Edwards a professor of biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
.
Books
- Wynne-Edwards, V.C. 1962. Animal Dispersion in Relation to Social Behavior. Oliver & Boyd, London.
External links
- http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v116n03/p0815-p0816.pdf
- http://people.bu.edu/cschneid/BI504/PowerPoint/Week5_2.pdf
- Vero Wynne-Edwards fonds at Queen's University Archives
- http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/fellowship/obits/obits_alpha/wynne-edwards_vero.pdf
- http://www.wku.edu/~smithch/chronob/WYNN1906.htm
- http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/08/world/vero-wynne-edwards-90-evolution-theorist.html
- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3793/is_199907/ai_n8874242/