. J.B.S. Haldane (a famous population geneticists) once remarked that he’d be willing to lay down his life to save two brothers or eight cousins. Explain what he meant. Based on the theory of kin selection and reciprocal altruism, predict the conditions under which people are expected to be nice to one another.
2007-12-04 06:09:17 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Two brothers could have all the same alleles you have.
So might eight cousins.
So, if you laid down your life under those circumstances, your alleles would not be lost to posterity.
You'd be expected to be nice to those who share your alleles.
But with people, it's a little more complex, because we're social. You might also choose to be nice to someone whose daughter might marry your son... or to be nice to someone who will give you protein food in exchange for your starchy food. *shrug*
2007-12-04 07:10:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm - what percent of your genotype might you expect to be shared with siblings? with non-sibling relatives? Why might you help someone else? Might you be more likely to help someone else who is related to you? Might you be more likely to help someone else who is more closely related than someone who is less closely related? What's more important - you or your genes?
2007-12-04 06:26:31 · answer #2 · answered by John R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋