Genetic Consequences of Selection Pressure

Abstract

My role in this Symposium is to look at the problem of differential fertility from the point of view of a quantitative geneticist. As far as the problem of intelligence is concerned I shall have to keep to a strictly theoretical level because I know little about the evidence. I shall assume that there really is a fertility differential for intelligence, and that the problem of what effect this apparent selection will have on the intelligence of future generations is a real one. The evidence reviewed by Dr Carter in his contribution to this Symposium encourages the belief that the fertility differential is positive, and not negative as it used to be supposed. What I have to say applies equally, whether the apparent selection is for increased or for decreased intelligence.