Question

. 1. Explain Hamilton’s Rule in words.

2. Relate indirect fitness and kin selection to the alarm callings of black tailed prairie dogs.

4. Does kin selection explain how humans distribute wealth? (You don’t have to write about this, but what about something like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation? Think about how you’d explain that.)

Answer 1

In evolutionary biology, altruism is a phenomenon by which an individual performs a task that benefits another individual at a cost to themselves. This act is generally promoted by the relatedness between the individual performing the task and the person getting the benefits. For example, your parents are more likely to do a task for your well being in spite of costing them instead of your neighbor. Hamiltons Rule is an evolutionary kin selection theory that follows this principle:  r × B > C, where r is the relatedness between two species, B is the benefit and C is the cost of the task performed. More the relatedness and benefit than the cost, the more chance that the task will be performed by the altruist.

There are two concepts of Reproductive fitness. Direct fitness is personal reproduction while in indirect fitness, is the reproduction of your species by the relatives that has been possible due to your action meaning that growth of the species is more than what would have been normally present if the individual absent. E.g black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). They altruistically alert other members of their own group about the presence of potential predators using alarm calls, thereby significantly reducing predation and ultimately increasing
overall survival and reproductive rates. Additionally, prairie dogs call more frequently in the presence of their offspring to protect them from harm suggesting an element of kin selection.

Humans often use wealth to maximize their inclusive fitness. By providing their kin with inherited wealth, an individual may improve his or her kin's reproductive opportunities and thus increase his or her own inclusive fitness. For e.g Bill and Melinda Gates have been known to share the wealth as a form of charity to the less fortunate. As a result, these individuals who previously could not thrive are in better condition to thrive as a species, meaning the Foundation is allowing the growth of their own species by a distribution of wealth.