George R. Price
American mathematician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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George Robert Price (October 16, 1922 – January 6, 1975) was an American population geneticist. Price is often noted for his formulation of the Price equation in 1967.
George R. Price | |
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Born | October 16, 1922 New York, United States |
Died | January 6, 1975(1975-01-06) (aged 52) London, United Kingdom |
Alma mater | University of Chicago |
Spouse | Julia Madigan (m. 1947 div. 1955) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Population genetics, physical chemistry |
Originally a physical chemist and later a science journalist, he moved to London in 1967, where he worked in theoretical biology at the Galton Laboratory, making three important contributions: first, rederiving W.D. Hamilton's work on kin selection with the new Price equation that vindicated group selection; second, introducing (with John Maynard Smith) the concept of the evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS), a central concept in game theory; and third, formalizing Fisher's fundamental theorem of natural selection.
Price converted to Christianity and gave all his possessions to the poor. Price grew depressed in the setting of thyroid disease[1] and non-compliance with his medications, and committed suicide.