Cooperation and Altruism: Test-Check Questions

Question 1

What percentage of chromosomes (genes) are inherited?
(coefficient of relatedness)

Answer 1

allele has 50% chance that it comes from mom or dad

Question 2

What is the probability of sharing those inherited chromosomes (genes) with a sibling?
(coefficient of relatedness)

Answer 2

relation to half siblings: r = 0.25
Relation to full siblings: r = 0.5
Relation to full cousins: r = 12.5

Question 3

For diploid mammals, what is the coefficient of relatedness between parent and offspring? Grandparent?

Answer 3

parent and offspring: r = 0.5
grandparent: r = 0.25

Question 4

For which theory of altruism will an animal always be expected to suffer a cost?

Answer 4

reciprocity

Question 5

What is Hamilton’s rule and how does it work?

Answer 5

• mathematical concept of how animals decide if they will provide aid or not to another animal

Formula: B/C > r1/r2

Donor offers aid, recipient gets aid
C = cost to donor for giving aid
B = benefit to donor for providing aid
r1 = coefficient of relatedness between donor and own offspring
r2 = coefficient of relatedness between donor and recipients offspring

Question 6

Which relatives are diploid mammals more likely to provide aid to?

Answer 6

with animals that have a higher genetic similarity, higher coefficient of relatedness

Question 7

For haplodiploid social insects, what is the coefficient of relatedness between……?

Answer 7

Males: son and mom 100%, son and dad 0%
Females: daughter with mom and dad 50%

Question 8

In haplodiploid insects from which parent(s) do male and female offspring receive their chromosomes (genes)?

Answer 8

Males: get 100% chromosomes from diploid queen female
Females: 50% from diploid queen female, 50% from father

Question 9

What is the difference between direct, indirect, and inclusive fitness?

Answer 9

Direct fitness: having own offspring survive

Indirect fitness: having distant relatives survive

Inclusive fitness: having ALL relatives that animal is related to surivive

Question 10

What are some reason(s) why altruism may have evolved?

Answer 10

Kin Selection, Mutualism, Manipulation, Reciprocity, and Ecological constraints

Question 11

What is E.O. Wilson’s biggest contribution to the field of animal behavior?

Answer 11

• the study of the genetic basis of social behavior across all animals, including humans
• social insect research

Question 12

What is an animal expected to do when exhibiting ultimate altruism?

Answer 12

provide severe cost to themselves, such as injury or even death