The Theory of Dominance

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Abstract
Fisher''s theory of the origin of dominance, through natural selection of the gene-complex, is reviewed. It receives confirmation from recent work on the multiple effects of single genes. Hal-dane''s supplementary suggestion, that dominance may arise through natural selection of multiple allelomorphs, is also discussed. It is pointed out that this is also ultimately dependent upon selection of the gene-complex. Evidence is cited that mutations are sometimes due to changes at a given locus and sometimes to actual losses of genie material. But such losses provide no explanation of the recessive state and do not necessarily lead to the recessive condition. Dominance modification will be particularly rapid in polymorphic forms, for in these the heterozygotes form a large proportion of the population.

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