Kin Selection Research Paper

The book of Genesis states that God created life in an array of fixed species and it was not until the 19th Century, that paleontological discoveries started to cast doubt on creationism and Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution in On the Origin of the Species (Clegg, 2007, p.120). The two processes that are involved in evolution and the fundamental connections between the evolutionary process and behaviour, in particular that of altruism and whether it can be seen as an adaptive behaviour are considered here.

Natural selection involves the adaptation of a species to better survive in their designated environment. When organisms reproduce, they pass down their DNA to their offspring. For example, a child that is tall is the result of their parent being tall as well. Parents pass down traits to their children. When it comes to survival, some organisms are better at it than others based on the traits that they have acquired. Some organisms can camouflage from predators while members of the same species do not obtain that same trait. With that in mind, the ones that can camouflage will most likely survive in certain environments and they will then pass on that trait when they reproduce. Since these traits are advantageous, they are passed on to more and more offspring through time and it will eventually overcome any original traits that species first started out with. It’s kind of like the current state of sexual misconduct in Hollywood. We have our directors, actors, agents, and so forth. However, as time goes on, some do not survive in the business based on their inherently evil traits and they get weeded out just like some species in the wild. As generations pass, these organisms have then adapted to fit the environment and better survive based on their inherited traits.

In what he called the ‘survival of the fittest’, Darwin suggested that through the process of natural selection animals with particular characteristics, as a result of possessing advantageous alleles, will survive. However, those with maladaptive genes cannot adapt to changes in environmental conditions, so will die or become extinct. Dowling (1994) stated that this process depends on three principles: species diversity, interaction and the spread of a species as a result of differential amplification. Sexual selection is another component of Darwin’s research, which explains the best strategies adopted for passing on genes to offspring. Moreover, there are problems with Darwin’s theory such as his attempts to generalise animal behaviour to the way in which humans interact in their environment. However, he has presented compelling evidence which is very scientific in its approach and methodology. Furthermore, contrary to Darwin’s evolutionary idea of survival of an individual, Dawkins (1976) suggested that the survival of the genes is more important.

Both evolutionary and functional explanations of physiology and behavior are important in understanding why certain genes evolve across various generations. The evolution of structural characteristics and behaviors explain many of the questions often asked as to why humans, as well as other species, are the way that they are. More specifically, evolutionary psychologists use adaptive theories to comprehend why particular behaviors are promoted across generations or cultures, while others are not. Both structural and behavioral advantages managed to the survival rates in countless populations, at least in ancestral times (Kalat, 2013). However, while current evolutionary trends are no longer focused on just the adaptations relating to survival,

Unlike natural selection, sexual selection does not adapt individuals to the environment, but it enhances mate acquisition. It also explains how sexually desired traits may have fuelled the fire of rapid organism development. Some of the traits acquired give either negative or positive results. Negative results can even lead to extinction, but positive results can lead to elaborate change that brings about a stronger and better species. Darwin theory of sexual selection observed that female are the limiting sex and most of them are unavailable for sex as they are pregnant or caring for young one. Since male tends to be in excess, they develop ornaments to attract female or engage each other on male contests.

In topic 1, the introduction to human uniqueness and social coercion theory, we are introduced to some of the common misinterpretation behind Charles’ Darwin’s theory of evolution, specifically in regards to natural selection and survival of the fittest. One of the biggest contributors to this issue is the lack of exposure to the general public on the overall theory behind these two processes. Instead of a full detailed explanation about natural selection and survival of the fittest, we are just told that it is slow and that to be fit means a level of superiority among competition, respectively. Topic 1 revealed that this is not true, as well as stating that natural selection is about individual risk, benefit and cost is of the utmost importance(Bingham). Based on this newly found insight from the course, how does individual risk, benefit, and cost play such an important role in natural selection even though selection is seen in a population and not a

It 's just how organisms optimized during evolution. The same principles count for the evolution of behavior. We all want the Nash equilibrium. Charles Darwin did not discover evolution. He had a mechanism how to work it. Chance over time, are the traits in populations. We can build on this in a few easy steps. Traits are heritable (genetic). The variables occur in different ways. Some versions are more adaptable than others. It 's all about reproduction and the amount of copies of your genes you can pass on to the next generation, and when a mutation happens, you can get large chances in a population. This is also the case for behaviors.

Thus entities, like planets that do not reproduce, cannot evolve by natural selection; entities that reproduce but in which parental characters are not inherited by their offspring also cannot evolve by natural selection. But when the four conditions apply, the

In "The Selfish Gene," the main biological concept discussed is evolution and adaptation. To fully understand the concept of a "selfish gene", the reader must first understand the meaning of altruistic behavior, which is discussed throughout the story. Altruistic behavior is when one sacrifices, or risks, its own

Instinct, its inheritability and the role it plays in natural selection, are explained. Unlike habit, which is learned, instinct is an innate characteristic inherited from past generations. Although the cause of instincts is unclear, Darwin states that they are molded by natural selection, just as physical variations are. Instincts that are beneficial to a species’ survival are selected for and thus propagated, eventually creating a better adapted species with higher rates of survival in the environment. Some examples of advantageous instincts include hens that lay eggs in others’ nests to produce more offspring that they do not have to take responsibility for raising. Worker ants in slave away their lives for the good of their colony while

The matter of Natural Selection was brought forth by Charles Darwin and with that evolved the concept of Sexual Selection. The first thing that may come to mind is male preference in females for reproductive purposes. It is quite common when thinking about the process of Natural Selection. We don’t typically take notice of Darwin’s recognition or acceptance for “female choice” upon mate selection and the role it plays in our evolution. Both males and females differentiate when it comes to parental investment. Therefore selection of the opposite sex in order to benefit their kin is a valuable choice. We know that amongst men typically their preferences are based on physical attractiveness; so then what drives females. In attempts to better understand what and how females make their decisions in benefit for themselves and their offspring and how they have possibly evolved. We will look at a variety of ideas that have been formed in the research attempted to get a better understanding of this topic.

An oxymoron appeared to exist between Darwin’s theory of natural selection (1859) and the definition of altruism (West et al., 2006). Hamilton’s theory of inclusive fitness (1964) appeared to mediate this problem. However, the theory does not explain altruistic acts towards non-kin in line with natural selection. Reciprocal altruism (Trivers, 1971), indirect altruism (Alexander, 1987) and strong reciprocity (Gintis, 2000) have been proposed to resolve this conflict. It is of note that behaviour in all theories has been noted in animals, but will not be discussed further. Instead, the essay will focus on which theories are most relevant when understanding human sociality, with the author explaining why no sole theory is seen to describe the phenomenon. All theories will be discussed in relation to evolutionary stable strategies (ESS), which refers to plans that when adopted by a majority of members in a population that restrict any other action existing, which could yield higher reproductive success (Smith & Price, 1973).

Kin selection relates to evolutionary advantage according to Hamilton's rule, C/B < b. The ratio of the cost, C (which is the expected loss in reproductive success for the doer) to the benefit for the recipient, B (the gain in reproductive success for the must be less than the probability that the recipient has the same allele, for the altruist gene to survive (5).

Over the years, several thinkers have attempted to trace back the evolution of the family and have set forward various theories which are often widely different from one another. Such variations can be attributed to the fact that no concrete evidence has

Nevertheless, one recent study suggests that genetic differences between our ancestors could have resulted in lethal intergroup competition which disfavoured non-altruists [6]. I will attempt to link this theory to what is known as kin selection. Kin selection explains altruism as an act increasing the probability of an individual’s genes being transmitted to the next generation. [3] We share half of our genes our siblings and parents, and a quarter with cousins, nephews and nieces. [1, 2] Therefore, altruistic behaviour towards these individuals would result in our genes passing on due to their higher probability of survival. This is known as increasing one’s inclusive fitness. [7] Since early human societies included members genetically related to one another, [6] kin selection between these individuals resulted in the societies growing in size. Thus, societies genetically predisposed in displaying co-operative, altruistic behaviour towards each other (through acts such as group hunting, mutually defending each other, and sharing food) are more capable of surviving, resulting in the altruistic gene surviving.[1] This, I believe, is the predominant explanation for altruism in humans today. The act of altruism is a genetic inheritance evolving through the basic instinct of survival and continuity of species.