The model, and evidence from real species, indicate that cousin matings are approximately optimum. These concepts may be used to optimise breeding methods and to maximise plant and animal improvement' These concepts may be used to optimise breeding methods and to maximise plant and animal improvement. The principles developed are also important for the study of evolution. The mathematics of large additive gene systems is such that there is an almost infinite number of possible gene combinations for any additive total. In large populations, these combinations store immense amounts of cryptic genetic information.
Conventional ideas require some form of genetic isolation to produce new species.
The author has shown that, within a single large additive gene system, new species may develop in a few tens of generations' Conventional ideas require some form of genetic isolation to produce new species. The author has shown that, within a single large additive gene system, new species may develop in a few tens of generations. This result has major implications in understanding the fossil record with its sudden appearances of new species and the scarcity of intermediate fossils. A single additive system may intersperse millions of generations with little obvious variation, with few or many short periods of rapid or minor change. It may produce numerous new species or vary its direction as a single line.