Genetic similarity theory: beyond kin selection.

Genetic similarity, human altruism, and group selection

A new theory of attraction and liking based on kin selection suggests that people detect genetic similarity in others in order to give preferential treatment to those who are most similar to themselves. There are many sources of empirical and theoretical support for this view, including (1) the inclusive fitness theory of altruism, (2) kin recognition studies of animals raised apart, (3) assort...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Comment on Genetic Similarity Theory

Genetic similarity theory, a purported extension o f the concept o f inclusive fitness, is not only unnecessary, but also logically flawed. In this paper, the author (1) discusses the definition o f inclusive fitness; (2) identifies the major logical f law of genetic similarity theory; and (3) refers readers to earlier, more thorough discussions o f several common misunderstandings o f kin sele...

Detecting kin selection at work using inclusive fitness.

A recent model shows that altruism can evolve with limited migration and variable group sizes, and the authors claim that kin selection cannot provide a sufficient explanation of their results. It is demonstrated, using a recent reformulation of Hamilton's original arguments, that the model falls squarely within the scope of inclusive fitness theory, which furthermore shows how to calculate inc...

Selective pressures for accurate altruism targeting: evidence from digital evolution for difficult-to-test aspects of inclusive fitness theory

Inclusive fitness theory predicts that natural selection will favour altruist genes that are more accurate in targeting altruism only to copies of themselves. In this paper, we provide evidence from digital evolution in support of this prediction by competing multiple altruist-targeting mechanisms that vary in their accuracy in determining whether a potential target for altruism carries a copy ...

Special Issue: Kin Selection Genomics: moving behavioural ecology beyond the phenotypic gambit