Agency Quote by John B. S. Haldane
“Quantitative work shows clearly that natural selection is a reality, and that, among other things, it selects Mendelian genes, which are known to be distributed at random through wild populations, and to follow the laws of chance in their distribution to offspring. In other words, they are an agency producing variation of the kind which Darwin postulated as the raw material on which selection acts.”
About This Quote
Source Scientific Paper: The Causes of Evolution, J. B. S. Haldane, 1932
Natural selection operates on random genetic variation, confirming Darwin’s idea of variation as raw material for evolution.
In simple terms: Selection acts on random gene variation.
Key Takeaway
Recognize randomness in evolution.
Themes
biologyvolution
genetics
randomness
Mood
analytical
neutral
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- evolutionary research
- teaching biology
- public science communication
Key Concepts
Darwinism
population genetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does random variation influence adaptation?
- What role does environment play?
A Different Perspective
Selection alone does not guarantee adaptation; environment matters.
![“We have no clear ideas of the agency of [demonic] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but tells us plainly that he is always watching us, and desiring to sift us as wheat. I believe we give him no more than his due, when we charge him with having a…” quote by John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c75/john-newton-6629_abundance_we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of_2907.jpg)
