Kin selection is the key to altruism

• Published in: Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 57 - 60
• Main Authors: Foster, Kevin R., Wenseleers, Tom, Ratnieks, Francis L.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Altruism; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Evolution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Hymenoptera - genetics; Hymenoptera - physiology; Models, Biological; Selection, Genetic; Theory; Arthropoda; Biological evolution; Insecta; Kin selection; Altruism; Invertebrata; Fitness

Kin selection theory, also known as inclusive fitness theory, has been the subject of much debate and misunderstanding. Nevertheless, the idea that relatedness among individuals can drive the evolution of altruism has emerged as a central paradigm in evolutionary biology. Or has it? In two recent ar...