title: Genes underlying altruism.
abstract: William D. Hamilton postulated the existence of 'genes underlying altruism', under the rubric of inclusive fitness theory, a half-century ago. Such genes are now poised for discovery. In this article, we develop a set of intuitive criteria for the recognition and analysis of genes for altruism and describe the first candidate genes affecting altruism from social insects and humans. We also provide evidence from a human population for genetically based trade-offs, underlain by oxytocin-system polymorphisms, between alleles for altruism and alleles for non-social cognition. Such trade-offs between self-oriented and altruistic behaviour may influence the evolution of phenotypic diversity across all social animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Western University, , 1151 Richmond St. North, London, Ontario, Canada , N6A 5B7.
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hurd
authors.forename: Bernard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Crespi
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000533:Altruism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005075:Biological Evolution; D056084:Genetic Fitness; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: altruism; inclusive fitness; sociality