9/10 Kin selection

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This week's lectures discussed altruism in the context of natural selection. Dr. Wiggins asked if we believed that kin selection is altruism. I do not believe that kin selection should be considered altruism. Altruism is defined as a behavior that increases the fitness of the recipient but decreases the fitness of the donor. Kin selection involves a donor favoring their kin. Because kin selection increases the genes of the donor as well as the recipient it should not be considered altruism. If the donor genes were not increased it could be considered altruism. However, in the case of kin selection the donor benefits as well going against the definition altruism.