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Multiple Choice
How can altruistic behaviors evolve through natural selection?
A
Altruistic behaviors always decrease the fitness of both the individual and its relatives.
B
Altruistic behaviors arise solely due to random genetic drift, not natural selection.
C
Altruistic behaviors can increase the reproductive success of relatives, thereby promoting the survival of shared genes (kin selection).
D
Altruistic behaviors are maintained only if they provide no benefit to any individual in the population.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of altruistic behavior: Altruistic behaviors are actions that benefit other individuals at a cost to the individual performing the behavior. These behaviors can evolve through mechanisms like kin selection.
Learn about kin selection: Kin selection is a form of natural selection where individuals increase their inclusive fitness by helping relatives who share their genes. This is based on the idea that shared genetic material can be passed on indirectly through the reproductive success of relatives.
Apply Hamilton's Rule: Hamilton's Rule states that altruistic behaviors are favored by natural selection if the benefit to the recipient (B), multiplied by the coefficient of relatedness (r), exceeds the cost to the altruist (C). Mathematically, this is expressed as: .
Analyze the evolutionary advantage: Altruistic behaviors can increase the reproductive success of relatives, thereby promoting the survival of shared genes. This ensures that the genetic material of the altruist is indirectly passed on to future generations.
Recognize the incorrect statements: Altruistic behaviors do not always decrease the fitness of both the individual and its relatives. They are not solely due to random genetic drift, and they are maintained because they provide benefits to relatives, not because they provide no benefit to any individual in the population.