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Sewall Wright

American geneticist (1889-1988) · United States · On the map · Scientists · Died at 98

Sewall Green Wright ForMemRS HonFRSE was an American geneticist known for his influential work on evolutionary theory and also for his work on path analysis.

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A life in dates

1988Died3 March 19881984Balzan PrizeAward1982Thomas Hunt Morgan MedalAward1980Darwin MedalAward1978Fellow of the Econometric SocietyAwardGordon J. Laing AwardAward1966National Medal of ScienceAward1963Foreign Member of the Royal SocietyAward1956Kimber Genetics AwardAward1945Daniel Giraud Elliot MedalAward1941Josiah Willard Gibbs LectureshipAward1938Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical StatisticsAward1889Born21 December 1889

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Awards

Balzan Prize1984
Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal1982
Darwin Medal1980
Gordon J. Laing Award1978
Fellow of the Econometric Society1978
National Medal of Science1966
Foreign Member of the Royal Society1963
Kimber Genetics Award1956
Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal1945
Josiah Willard Gibbs Lectureship1941
Fellow of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics1938

About this person

He was a founder of population genetics alongside Ronald Fisher and J. B. S. Haldane, which was a major step in the development of the modern synthesis combining genetics with evolution. He discovered the inbreeding coefficient and methods of computing it in pedigree animals. He extended this work to populations, computing the amount of inbreeding between members of populations as a result of random genetic drift, and along with Fisher he pioneered methods for computing the distribution of gene frequencies among populations as a result of the interaction of natural selection, mutation, migration and genetic drift. Wright also made major contributions to mammalian and biochemical genetics.

Country
United States
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1889 to 1988 · aged 98