Transcript Slide 1 - Dr. Michael Mills

Kin Selection, Genetic
Selection, and Informationdependent strategies
By JC Santos, Thomas Valencia,
Jannall Brummell
Kin Selection
How natural selection shapes genetically
inherited traits that simultaneously impact the
reproduction of the carrier of the trait and the
reproduction of individuals who share genes
underlying that trait
Rushton sees kin selection as a strategy of
reproductive trade-off between carrier and
recipient that will emerge in the genetic code
relative to the strategy needed for that particular
environment
Genetic Similarity
Between individuals
Substituted for relatedness
Illustrates that selection operates on a
genetic level and therefore kin selection
and inclusive fitness should be addressed
on the genetic level instead if the
individual level
Flaws of Genetic Similarity Theory
At the genetic level there is no similarity




genetics are either
identical
not identical
information indicating that a replica of a gene
will be duplicated.
Genes will replicate regardless of what


individuals they are in
in relation to the environment.
2 Key Questions about Genetic
Similarity Theory
1) Does genetic similarity operate as an
evolutionary principle independent of
common ancestry?
2) Can and does a phenotype matching
process that samples heritable phenotypic
markers (in order to create altruism and/or
mating) operate in humans?
Answer to Question 1
“Genetic similarity” does not arise independently from
relatedness because of the amount of possible gene
combinations created during sex.



likelihood that someone not of common ancestry in the
Pleistocene era who was genetically similar to oneself would be
virtually impossible due to the countless combinations of sex.
if it did happen there would be no way to really know if a nonrelated stranger contained a genetically similar trait.
the concept of altruism shared between related kin is lost in this
theory due to the fact that we are altruistic toward our own kin
and not someone who might have a similar trait as oneself.
Answer to Question 2
“Yes,” adaptations for assessing relatedness
between kin must arise as a mechanism



so one will be able to regulate kin relevant strategies
such as altruism and mating.
arises out of a shared common ancestry
it is possible that using information of heredity
markers could help in constructing patterns of kinship
helps influence mating, friendship, and altruism in humans.
Blood Group Data
Deals with the concept of race, and how we as
people tend to travel with those of one’s race
due to the fact that we share more common
genes with those of our own race.
the concept of blood groups does not explain the
evolution of kin-selection mechanisms.


a non-relative of one’s own race are only slightly
different from individuals of a different race
competition evolving out of the Pleistocene would
help in the development of inclusive fitness effects on
such concepts as coalitions and altruism.
Conclusion
The concept of genetic phenotype markers as a
way to form human coalitions is limited


only provides information for the formation of inclusive
fitness strategy
Markers do not seem useful in tracing close kinship
links as the more distant the relationship tracked the
more useless the markers would serve as source of
information
Empirical results have a sound basis but the
concept of “genetic similarity” distorts the main
idea of inclusive fitness and how altruism and
coalitions form based on kin ties.
Critical Review
Not clear whether it is proper to generalize
results from Pleistocene era.
Since blood group data can not explain the
evolution of kin-selection is it worth
analyzing further?
Should kin selection be addressed on the
genetic level instead of the individual
level?