Kin selection explains altruistic behavior where individuals help relatives to ensure the transfer of shared genes. Which concept describes this idea?

Kin selection explains altruistic behavior where individuals help relatives to ensure the transfer of shared genes. Which concept describes this idea?

• A. Kin selection
• B. Reciprocal altruism
• C. Group selection
• D. Maturation

Answer: (A)

Kin selection explains why individuals sometimes help relatives, because doing so can increase the propagation of shared genes through those relatives. By helping relatives, an individual boosts its inclusive fitness, which combines its own direct reproductive success with the success of relatives who carry many of the same genes. A useful way to think about when such altruism should evolve is Hamilton’s rule: relatedness to the recipient times the benefit to the recipient must exceed the cost to the actor (rB > C). This framework explains why helping close kin is common even at a personal cost. Reciprocal altruism describes helping non-relatives with the expectation of future repayment. Group selection focuses on traits that benefit the group as a whole, not just genes shared within a family. Maturation is about development and timing, not social evolution.

Kin selection explains why individuals sometimes help relatives, because doing so can increase the propagation of shared genes through those relatives. By helping relatives, an individual boosts its inclusive fitness, which combines its own direct reproductive success with the success of relatives who carry many of the same genes. A useful way to think about when such altruism should evolve is Hamilton’s rule: relatedness to the recipient times the benefit to the recipient must exceed the cost to the actor (rB > C). This framework explains why helping close kin is common even at a personal cost.

Reciprocal altruism describes helping non-relatives with the expectation of future repayment. Group selection focuses on traits that benefit the group as a whole, not just genes shared within a family. Maturation is about development and timing, not social evolution.