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Cultural versus genetic adaptation.

L L Cavalli-Sforza, M W Feldman

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    |August 1, 1983
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Genetic adaptation typically outcompetes cultural adaptation, even with parent-to-child and infectious transmission. However, flexible cultural transmission offers an evolutionary advantage for adapting to novel situations.

    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary biology
    • Population genetics
    • Cultural evolution

    Background:

    • Understanding the interplay between genetic and cultural adaptation is crucial for explaining human evolution.
    • Different models of cultural transmission (vertical, oblique, horizontal) can influence evolutionary trajectories.
    • The relative rates and mechanisms of genetic and cultural change are key areas of investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the competitive dynamics between genetic and cultural adaptation.
    • To compare various cultural transmission models against a genetic (haploid) transmission model.
    • To identify conditions under which genetic and cultural adaptations can coexist or one prevails.

    Main Methods:

    • Theoretical modeling of evolutionary processes.

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  • Simulation of genetic (haploid) transmission.
  • Analysis of different cultural transmission pathways: vertical (parent-to-child) and oblique (infectious).

    • Main Results:

    • Genetic adaptation generally prevails over cultural adaptation, particularly with vertical and oblique transmission.
    • While genetic adaptation dominates, cultural factors can lead to slow increases and persistent polymorphism.
    • Permanent polymorphism, where both genetic and cultural adaptations are maintained, is rare and requires specific cultural transmission conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • Genetic adaptation is a robust force, often outcompeting cultural adaptation in evolutionary models.
    • Cultural transmission, while often secondary, can influence evolutionary dynamics and allow for adaptation to new challenges.
    • Flexible cultural transmission mechanisms provide a significant evolutionary advantage by enabling rapid adaptation to novel environmental conditions.