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Phenotypic evolution under gene-culture transmission in structured populations
1Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Theoretical Biology
|June 7, 1992
Summary
Cultural transmission accelerates evolution when individual and group selection align. It also aids altruistic trait evolution under weak individual selection and limited migration, suggesting group selection is a potent evolutionary force.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Behavioral genetics
- Population genetics
Background:
- Phenotypic traits result from genetic and cultural inheritance.
- Cultural transmission is prevalent in higher species.
- The interplay between genetic and cultural inheritance in evolution is complex.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model the evolution of quantitative traits under combined genetic and cultural transmission.
- To compare evolutionary rates under gene-culture versus purely genetic transmission.
- To investigate the conditions under which gene-culture transmission influences the evolution of altruistic traits.
Main Methods:
- Developed a simple mathematical model for trait evolution.
- Analyzed the model under different selection regimes (individual vs. group) and migration rates.
- Compared evolutionary dynamics with and without cultural transmission.
Main Results:
- Phenotypic evolution is faster under gene-culture transmission when individual and group selection favor the same direction.
- Altruistic traits evolve more rapidly under gene-culture transmission when individual selection is weak and migration is limited.
- Increased individual selection and migration reduce the evolutionary advantage of gene-culture transmission for altruism.
Conclusions:
- Gene-culture transmission can significantly alter evolutionary trajectories compared to purely genetic inheritance.
- Group selection may be a more powerful evolutionary force for altruism than commonly assumed, especially with cultural transmission.
- Understanding cultural transmission is crucial for a complete picture of evolution, particularly for social behaviors.
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