Unit of selection and Confirmation of Evolutionary Theory" provides a basic "philosophical" introduction to the debate. Below, cases of selection at the genic, cellular, individual and group level from within the multi-level selection perspective are presented and discussed. George C. Williams in his influential book "Adaptation and Natural Selection" was one of the first to present a gene-centered view of evolution with the gene as the unit of selection, arguing that a unit of selection should exhibit a high degree of permanence. Richard Dawkins has written several books popularizing and expanding the idea. According to Dawkins, genes cause phenotypes and a gene is
The Major Transitions in Evolution The Major Transitions in Evolution The Major Transitions in Evolution is a book written by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry (Oxford University Press, 1995). At the time of its publication, Egbert Giles Leigh, Jr reviewing for "Evolution" commented that it "may be the most important book on evolution since [R.A.] Fisher's (1930) "The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection"". Maynard Smith and Szathmary authored a review article in "Nature". Maynard Smith and Szathmáry identified several properties common to the transitions: As stated by the authors, this book was aimed at professional biologists and assumes considerable prior knowledge. They have also