According to Hamilton's Rule

Question

According to Hamilton's rule
A)natural selection does not favour altruistic behaviour that causes the death of the altruist.
B)natural selection favours altruistic acts when the resulting benefit to the beneficiary, corrected for relatedness, exceeds the cost to the altruist.
C)natural selection is more likely to favour altruistic behaviour that benefits an offspring than altruistic behaviour that benefits a sibling.
D)the effects of kin selection are larger than the effects of direct natural selection on individuals.
E)altruism is always reciprocal.

Accepted Answer

Hamilton's rule states that natural selection favours altruistic acts when the resulting benefit to the beneficiary, corrected for relatedness, exceeds the cost to the altruist. This means that altruism is more likely to occur between closely related individuals, as the genetic similarity increases the benefits outweigh the costs. The rule does not imply that altruism is always reciprocal or that natural selection is more likely to favour altruistic behaviour that benefits an offspring than a sibling. It also doesn't mean that natural selection does not favour altruistic behaviour that causes the death of the altruist, as sacrificing oneself for the survival of related individuals (e.g. in colonial organisms) can still be beneficial for passing on genes.