Which principle states that animals behave preferentially toward their genetic kin, as proposed by Hamilton?

Which principle states that animals behave preferentially toward their genetic kin, as proposed by Hamilton?

• A. Inclusive fitness
• B. Group selection
• C. Adaptationism
• D. Kin selection

Answer: (D)

Kin selection is the principle that animals behave preferentially toward their genetic kin because helping relatives can promote the actor’s genes in the next generation. This idea, proposed by Hamilton, is captured by the idea that altruistic acts are favored when the genetic relatedness to the recipient (r) times the benefit to the recipient (b) exceeds the cost to the actor (c): r × b > c. Inclusive fitness is related, as it combines an individual's own reproduction with the effects of helping relatives, but kin selection specifically names the behavior toward kin. Group selection and adaptationism describe different concepts (selection on groups or traits as adaptations) and aren’t the term for this kin-based behavior.

Kin selection is the principle that animals behave preferentially toward their genetic kin because helping relatives can promote the actor’s genes in the next generation. This idea, proposed by Hamilton, is captured by the idea that altruistic acts are favored when the genetic relatedness to the recipient (r) times the benefit to the recipient (b) exceeds the cost to the actor (c): r × b > c. Inclusive fitness is related, as it combines an individual's own reproduction with the effects of helping relatives, but kin selection specifically names the behavior toward kin. Group selection and adaptationism describe different concepts (selection on groups or traits as adaptations) and aren’t the term for this kin-based behavior.