Price equation

"Price's theorem" redirects here. For the theorem in general relativity, see Richard H. Price.

In the theory of evolution and natural selection, the Price equation (also known as Price's equation or Price's theorem) describes how a "characteristic" of a population changes in frequency over time as the result of reproduction and natural selection. A characteristic may be a physical or behavioral trait (phenotype) or a particular genetic makeup (allele).

The equation uses a covariance between a characteristic and fitness, to give a mathematical description of evolution and natural selection. It provides a way to understand the effects that gene transmission and natural selection have on the frequency of alleles and/or phenotypes within each new generation of a population. The Price equation was derived by George R. Price, working in London to re-derive W.D. Hamilton's work on kin selection.

Examples of the Price equation have been constructed for various evolutionary cases. For example Collins and Gardner use the Price equation to partition the total change in toxin resistance in microbial communities into evolutionary change, ecological change and physiological change. Ellner et al. use the Price equation to disentangle "ecological impacts of evolution vs. non-heritable trait change", using examples from data on birds, fish and zooplankton. The Price equation also has applications in economics.

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