Kin Selection
Kin selection, proposed by biologist W.D. Hamilton in the 1960s, explains how altruistic behaviors evolve based on genetic relatedness. The idea is that individuals are more likely to help close relatives because they share some of their genes. By aiding relatives in survival and reproduction, individuals indirectly promote the spread of their own genes to future generations, even if they don’t directly reproduce themselves.
Examples of Kin Selection
- Social insects like bees and ants, where worker bees sacrifice their own reproduction to care for their queen and siblings. This makes sense evolutionarily because workers are genetically closer to their siblings than to unrelated individuals, increasing the chances of their shared genes being passed down through the queen’s reproduction.
- In many bird and mammal species, adults provide parental care to their offspring, even at the expense of their own survival and reproduction. This parental investment enhances the survival and reproductive success of genetically similar offspring, thereby boosting the overall fitness of the family group.
Hamilton’s Rule
Hamilton’s rule, also known as Hamilton’s principle, explains how altruistic behaviours evolve by considering the balance between the benefits to relatives and the costs to the individual. Hamilton’s Rule example is seen in altruistic behaviour in animals, where individuals sacrifice themselves to benefit relatives. This concept helps us understand why organisms, like ants and humans, engage in actions that help others even at their own expense.
It’s a key idea in evolutionary biology, shedding light on the emergence of cooperation and selflessness in populations over time. In this article, we will cover the Hamilton rule, formula, kin selection and more.
Table of Content
- What is Hamilton’s Rule?
- How to calculate Hamilton’s Rule
- Hamilton’s rule Example Problems
- Kin Selection
- Conclusion: Hamilton’s Rule
- FAQs on Hamilton’s Rule