Game theory models show that the evolution of interactions between relatives is determined by two... more Game theory models show that the evolution of interactions between relatives is determined by two kinds of fitness effects: Hamilton's inclusive fitness effect, and a frequency-dependent synergistic effect. The latter arises when an individual's behaviour has different effects on the fitness of interactants, depending on whether or not they perform the same behaviour. Knowing the sign of the synergistic effect is sufficient to understand most of the qualitative features of genetic models that show departures from Hamilton's rule.
Abstract Parasites that exploit the parental behaviour of several host species may be selected to... more Abstract Parasites that exploit the parental behaviour of several host species may be selected to form distinct host-specific genetic lineages. This process is well documented in bird brood parasites, but not in insect social parasites. Polistes atrimandibularis is the only paper-wasp social parasite known to exploit four host species. It does not form genetically distinct host races according to analyses based on microsatellite loci. Also, there were no size-matching between parasites and host species. Instead, P.
One of the challenges of microbial life is that the best location for feeding and growth may not ... more One of the challenges of microbial life is that the best location for feeding and growth may not be the best location for dispersal. This is likely to be the case for the social amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum and Dictyostelium purpureum that feed on soil bacteria in the amoeba stage, but then group into a multicellular slug that moves towards light before forming a fruiting body. Here we examine this short-range social dispersal in the social amoebae, Dictyostelium discoideum and D. purpureum. We predicted D.
In Douglas Adams's fantasy, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the computer Deep Thought takes... more In Douglas Adams's fantasy, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the computer Deep Thought takes seven and a half million years to calculate that the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything is 42. With that as a starting point, it takes a mere pocket calculator and a few simple symmetry assumptions to show that the answer to life alone is about 14.
Abstract There are two ways to model the genetic evolution of social behaviour. Population geneti... more Abstract There are two ways to model the genetic evolution of social behaviour. Population genetic models using personal fitness 1–9 may be exact and of wide applicability, but they are often complex and assume very different forms for different kinds of social behaviour. The alternative, inclusive fitness models 10–12, achieves simplicity and clarity by attributing all fitness effects of a behaviour to an expanded fitness of the actor.
Summary Hamilton's inclusive fitness rule shows that the evolution of altruism is facilitated by ... more Summary Hamilton's inclusive fitness rule shows that the evolution of altruism is facilitated by high genetic relatedness of altruists to their beneficiaries. But the evolution of altruism is inhibited when the beneficiaries are also close competitors of the altruist, as will often be true in structured or viscous populations. However, Hamilton's rule still gives the correct condition for the evolution of altruism if relatedness is measured with respect to the local competitive neighbourhood.
Abstract Many evolutionary studies, particularly kinship studies, have been limited by the availa... more Abstract Many evolutionary studies, particularly kinship studies, have been limited by the availability of segregating genetic marker loci. Microsatellites promise to alleviate these problems. Microsatellite loci are segments of DNA with very short sequence motifs repeated in tandem; their often numerous alleles differ in the number of these repeat units. They are very common in eukaryotic DNA and can be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, which allows the use of minute or degraded DNA samples.
The evolution of worker behavior in the social insects is usually explained by kin selection: alt... more The evolution of worker behavior in the social insects is usually explained by kin selection: although workers do not produce offspring, they do reproduce their genes by aiding the reproduction of relatives. The most difficult case for kin selection theory would be species in which workers are fully capable of reproducing but instead opt to rear brood of low relatedness.
When multicellularity originates through the aggregation of genetically variable cells, the inter... more When multicellularity originates through the aggregation of genetically variable cells, the interests of the component cells may conflict with each other. A prediction of conflict is that stronger cells will force weaker cells into non-reproductive tissues. However, if stronger cells are better in the reproductive tissues than in the somatic ones, then the same result may be expected in clonal organisms that optimize their development.
Dictyostelium discoideum has been very useful for elucidating principles of development over the ... more Dictyostelium discoideum has been very useful for elucidating principles of development over the last 50 years, but a key attribute means there is a lot to be learned from a very different intellectual tradition: social evolution. Because Dictyostelium arrives at multicellularity by aggregation instead of through a single-cell bottleneck, the multicellular body could be made up of genetically distinct cells.
Abstract In a major evolutionary transition to a new level of organization, internal conflicts mu... more Abstract In a major evolutionary transition to a new level of organization, internal conflicts must be controlled before the transition can truly be successful. One such transition is that from single cells to multicellularity. Conflicts among cells in multicellular organisms can be greatly reduced if they consist of genetically identical clones. However, mutations to cheaters that experience one round of within-individual selection could still be a problem, particularly for certain life cycles.
Abstract Biologists and philosophers differ on whether selection should be analyzed at the level ... more Abstract Biologists and philosophers differ on whether selection should be analyzed at the level of the gene or of the individual. In Peter Godfrey-Smith's book, Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection, he argues that individuals can be good members of Darwinian populations, whereas genes rarely can. I take issue with parts of this view, and suggest that Godfrey-Smith's scheme for thinking about Darwinian populations is also applicable to populations of genes.
Abstract Von Baer's law states that early stages of animal development are the most conserved. Mo... more Abstract Von Baer's law states that early stages of animal development are the most conserved. More recent evidence supports a modified “hourglass” pattern in which an early but somewhat later stage is most conserved. Both patterns have been explained by the relative complexity of either temporal or spatial interactions; the greatest conservation and lowest evolvability occur at the time of the most complex interactions, because these cause larger effects that are harder for selection to alter.
Abstract A major challenge for social theory is to explain the importance of kin discrimination f... more Abstract A major challenge for social theory is to explain the importance of kin discrimination for the evolution of altruism. One way to assess the importance of kin discrimination is to test its effects on increasing relatedness within groups. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum aggregates to form a fruiting body composed of dead stalk and live spores. Previous studies of a natural population showed that where D. discoideum occurs in the soil, multiple clones are often found in the same small soil samples.
Game theory models show that the evolution of interactions between relatives is determined by two... more Game theory models show that the evolution of interactions between relatives is determined by two kinds of fitness effects: Hamilton's inclusive fitness effect, and a frequency-dependent synergistic effect. The latter arises when an individual's behaviour has different effects on the fitness of interactants, depending on whether or not they perform the same behaviour. Knowing the sign of the synergistic effect is sufficient to understand most of the qualitative features of genetic models that show departures from Hamilton's rule.
Abstract Parasites that exploit the parental behaviour of several host species may be selected to... more Abstract Parasites that exploit the parental behaviour of several host species may be selected to form distinct host-specific genetic lineages. This process is well documented in bird brood parasites, but not in insect social parasites. Polistes atrimandibularis is the only paper-wasp social parasite known to exploit four host species. It does not form genetically distinct host races according to analyses based on microsatellite loci. Also, there were no size-matching between parasites and host species. Instead, P.
One of the challenges of microbial life is that the best location for feeding and growth may not ... more One of the challenges of microbial life is that the best location for feeding and growth may not be the best location for dispersal. This is likely to be the case for the social amoebae Dictyostelium discoideum and Dictyostelium purpureum that feed on soil bacteria in the amoeba stage, but then group into a multicellular slug that moves towards light before forming a fruiting body. Here we examine this short-range social dispersal in the social amoebae, Dictyostelium discoideum and D. purpureum. We predicted D.
In Douglas Adams's fantasy, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the computer Deep Thought takes... more In Douglas Adams's fantasy, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the computer Deep Thought takes seven and a half million years to calculate that the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything is 42. With that as a starting point, it takes a mere pocket calculator and a few simple symmetry assumptions to show that the answer to life alone is about 14.
Abstract There are two ways to model the genetic evolution of social behaviour. Population geneti... more Abstract There are two ways to model the genetic evolution of social behaviour. Population genetic models using personal fitness 1–9 may be exact and of wide applicability, but they are often complex and assume very different forms for different kinds of social behaviour. The alternative, inclusive fitness models 10–12, achieves simplicity and clarity by attributing all fitness effects of a behaviour to an expanded fitness of the actor.
Summary Hamilton's inclusive fitness rule shows that the evolution of altruism is facilitated by ... more Summary Hamilton's inclusive fitness rule shows that the evolution of altruism is facilitated by high genetic relatedness of altruists to their beneficiaries. But the evolution of altruism is inhibited when the beneficiaries are also close competitors of the altruist, as will often be true in structured or viscous populations. However, Hamilton's rule still gives the correct condition for the evolution of altruism if relatedness is measured with respect to the local competitive neighbourhood.
Abstract Many evolutionary studies, particularly kinship studies, have been limited by the availa... more Abstract Many evolutionary studies, particularly kinship studies, have been limited by the availability of segregating genetic marker loci. Microsatellites promise to alleviate these problems. Microsatellite loci are segments of DNA with very short sequence motifs repeated in tandem; their often numerous alleles differ in the number of these repeat units. They are very common in eukaryotic DNA and can be amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, which allows the use of minute or degraded DNA samples.
The evolution of worker behavior in the social insects is usually explained by kin selection: alt... more The evolution of worker behavior in the social insects is usually explained by kin selection: although workers do not produce offspring, they do reproduce their genes by aiding the reproduction of relatives. The most difficult case for kin selection theory would be species in which workers are fully capable of reproducing but instead opt to rear brood of low relatedness.
When multicellularity originates through the aggregation of genetically variable cells, the inter... more When multicellularity originates through the aggregation of genetically variable cells, the interests of the component cells may conflict with each other. A prediction of conflict is that stronger cells will force weaker cells into non-reproductive tissues. However, if stronger cells are better in the reproductive tissues than in the somatic ones, then the same result may be expected in clonal organisms that optimize their development.
Dictyostelium discoideum has been very useful for elucidating principles of development over the ... more Dictyostelium discoideum has been very useful for elucidating principles of development over the last 50 years, but a key attribute means there is a lot to be learned from a very different intellectual tradition: social evolution. Because Dictyostelium arrives at multicellularity by aggregation instead of through a single-cell bottleneck, the multicellular body could be made up of genetically distinct cells.
Abstract In a major evolutionary transition to a new level of organization, internal conflicts mu... more Abstract In a major evolutionary transition to a new level of organization, internal conflicts must be controlled before the transition can truly be successful. One such transition is that from single cells to multicellularity. Conflicts among cells in multicellular organisms can be greatly reduced if they consist of genetically identical clones. However, mutations to cheaters that experience one round of within-individual selection could still be a problem, particularly for certain life cycles.
Abstract Biologists and philosophers differ on whether selection should be analyzed at the level ... more Abstract Biologists and philosophers differ on whether selection should be analyzed at the level of the gene or of the individual. In Peter Godfrey-Smith's book, Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection, he argues that individuals can be good members of Darwinian populations, whereas genes rarely can. I take issue with parts of this view, and suggest that Godfrey-Smith's scheme for thinking about Darwinian populations is also applicable to populations of genes.
Abstract Von Baer's law states that early stages of animal development are the most conserved. Mo... more Abstract Von Baer's law states that early stages of animal development are the most conserved. More recent evidence supports a modified “hourglass” pattern in which an early but somewhat later stage is most conserved. Both patterns have been explained by the relative complexity of either temporal or spatial interactions; the greatest conservation and lowest evolvability occur at the time of the most complex interactions, because these cause larger effects that are harder for selection to alter.
Abstract A major challenge for social theory is to explain the importance of kin discrimination f... more Abstract A major challenge for social theory is to explain the importance of kin discrimination for the evolution of altruism. One way to assess the importance of kin discrimination is to test its effects on increasing relatedness within groups. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum aggregates to form a fruiting body composed of dead stalk and live spores. Previous studies of a natural population showed that where D. discoideum occurs in the soil, multiple clones are often found in the same small soil samples.
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