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Nature 395, 751-752 (22 October 1998) | doi:10.1038/27338

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Evolutionary biology:  The geometry of adaptation

Nick Barton1

Darwin1 explained the evolution of complex adaptations, such as the vertebrate eye, through the gradual "accumulation of innumerable slight varia- tions, each good for the individual possessor". In contrast, the early geneticists emphasized the role of major mutations, and disregarded natural selection2.

  1. Nick Barton is in the Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, Kings Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK.
    e-mail: Email: n.barton@ed.ac.uk