Altruism, Spite, and Greenbeards

Stuart A. West; Andy Gardner

doi:10.1126/science.1178332

Altruism, Spite, and Greenbeards

Stuart A. West^*, Andy Gardner

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness showed how natural selection could lead to behaviors that decrease the relative fitness of the actor and also either benefit (altruism) or harm (spite) other individuals. However, several fundamental issues in the evolution of altruism and spite have remained contentious. Here, we show how recent work has resolved three key debates, helping clarify how Hamilton's theoretical overview links to real-world examples, in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans: Is the evolution of extreme altruism, represented by the sterile workers of social insects, driven by genetics or ecology? Does spite really exist in nature? And, can altruism be favored between individuals who are not close kin but share a "greenbeard" gene for altruism?

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1341-1344
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	327
Issue number	5971
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1178332
Publication status	Published - 12 Mar 2010

Keywords

KIN SELECTION
STRONG RECIPROCITY
EVOLUTION
EUSOCIALITY
BACTERIOCINS
COOPERATION
COMPETITION
BEHAVIOUR
VIRULENCE
MONOGAMY

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10.1126/science.1178332

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title = "Altruism, Spite, and Greenbeards",

abstract = "Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness showed how natural selection could lead to behaviors that decrease the relative fitness of the actor and also either benefit (altruism) or harm (spite) other individuals. However, several fundamental issues in the evolution of altruism and spite have remained contentious. Here, we show how recent work has resolved three key debates, helping clarify how Hamilton's theoretical overview links to real-world examples, in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans: Is the evolution of extreme altruism, represented by the sterile workers of social insects, driven by genetics or ecology? Does spite really exist in nature? And, can altruism be favored between individuals who are not close kin but share a {"}greenbeard{"} gene for altruism?",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Altruism, Spite, and Greenbeards

AU - West, Stuart A.

AU - Gardner, Andy

PY - 2010/3/12

Y1 - 2010/3/12

N2 - Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness showed how natural selection could lead to behaviors that decrease the relative fitness of the actor and also either benefit (altruism) or harm (spite) other individuals. However, several fundamental issues in the evolution of altruism and spite have remained contentious. Here, we show how recent work has resolved three key debates, helping clarify how Hamilton's theoretical overview links to real-world examples, in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans: Is the evolution of extreme altruism, represented by the sterile workers of social insects, driven by genetics or ecology? Does spite really exist in nature? And, can altruism be favored between individuals who are not close kin but share a "greenbeard" gene for altruism?

AB - Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness showed how natural selection could lead to behaviors that decrease the relative fitness of the actor and also either benefit (altruism) or harm (spite) other individuals. However, several fundamental issues in the evolution of altruism and spite have remained contentious. Here, we show how recent work has resolved three key debates, helping clarify how Hamilton's theoretical overview links to real-world examples, in organisms ranging from bacteria to humans: Is the evolution of extreme altruism, represented by the sterile workers of social insects, driven by genetics or ecology? Does spite really exist in nature? And, can altruism be favored between individuals who are not close kin but share a "greenbeard" gene for altruism?

KW - KIN SELECTION

KW - STRONG RECIPROCITY

KW - EVOLUTION

KW - EUSOCIALITY

KW - BACTERIOCINS

KW - COOPERATION

KW - COMPETITION

KW - BEHAVIOUR

KW - VIRULENCE

KW - MONOGAMY

U2 - 10.1126/science.1178332

DO - 10.1126/science.1178332

M3 - Review article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 327

SP - 1341

EP - 1344

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 5971

ER -

Altruism, Spite, and Greenbeards

Abstract

Keywords

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