John Maynard Smith
John Maynard Smith was a British theoretical and mathematical evolutionary biologist and geneticist. Originally an aeronautical engineer during the Second World War, he took a second degree in genetics under the biologist J. B. S. Haldane. Maynard Smith was instrumental in the application of game theory to evolution with George R. Price, and theorised on other problems such as the evolution of sex and signalling theory.
Read biography ↓Biography, research & contributions
John Maynard Smith was a British theoretical and mathematical evolutionary biologist and geneticist. Originally an aeronautical engineer during the Second World War, he took a second degree in genetics under the biologist J. B. S. Haldane. Maynard Smith was instrumental in the application of game theory to evolution with George R. Price, and theorised on other problems such as the evolution of sex and signalling theory.
Top Publications
- Evolution and the Theory of Games (1988) - 7,982 citations
- Evolution and the Theory of Games (1982) - 7,002 citations
- The Logic of Animal Conflict (1973) - 6,334 citations
- The hitch-hiking effect of a favourable gene (1974) - 3,650 citations
- The Major Transitions in Evolution (1997) - 2,603 citations
At a glance
- Full name
- John Maynard Smith
- OpenAlex ID
- https://openalex.org/A5108453556
Research interests
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics, Philosophy and History of Science, Animal Behavior and Reproduction, Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation, Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Research topics
Education
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Selected research & further reading
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See the source-linked reading and original works in the research guide above.
Citation & publication trends
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Source: OpenAlex · Retrieved 2026-10-07. Metrics are database-specific and are not a scientific ranking.
Most-cited linked publications
Publications matched across ORCID and OpenAlex. Citation counts are source-specific.
- Evolution and the Theory of Games ↗1988 · Springer eBooks7,982OpenAlex citations
- Evolution and the Theory of Games ↗1982 · Cambridge University Press eBooks7,002OpenAlex citations
- The Logic of Animal Conflict ↗1973 · Nature6,334OpenAlex citations
- The hitch-hiking effect of a favourable gene ↗1974 · Genetics Research3,650OpenAlex citations
- The Major Transitions in Evolution ↗1997 · Oxford University Press eBooks2,603OpenAlex citations
Recent linked publications
Publications matched across ORCID and OpenAlex. Citation counts are source-specific.
- Evolution and the Theory of Games ↗1988 · Springer eBooks
- Evolution and the Theory of Games ↗1982 · Cambridge University Press eBooks
- The Logic of Animal Conflict ↗1973 · Nature
- The hitch-hiking effect of a favourable gene ↗1974 · Genetics Research
- The Major Transitions in Evolution ↗1997 · Oxford University Press eBooks
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Institutions
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Awards & honors
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Career timeline
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Co-authors
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Sign in to claim this profileSources & data information
Editorial review: 2026-10-07 · Last data update: 2026-10-07 21:46:31
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