Biological altruism refers to behaviors by an organism that increase the fitness of another organism at a cost to its own fitness, a phenomenon that challenges the notion of survival of the fittest. It is explained through theories such as kin selection and reciprocal altruism, which demonstrate how such behaviors can evolve through natural selection.

Biological Altruism

Biological altruism

Organism behaviors

fitness of another organism

cost to its own fitness

Survival of the fittest is a principle derived from Darwinian evolutionary theory, suggesting that individuals or groups best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This concept emphasizes natural selection as the driving force behind evolution, where advantageous traits become more common in successive generations.

survival of the fittest

Kin selection is an evolutionary strategy that favors the reproductive success of an organism's relatives, even at a cost to the organism's own survival and reproduction. This strategy is driven by the principle of inclusive fitness, which considers the genetic success of an individual as a combination of its own offspring and the offspring of its relatives who share common genes.

kin selection

Reciprocal altruism is a behavioral strategy where individuals help others with the expectation of future reciprocation, enhancing survival and reproductive success. This concept explains cooperation among non-kin in humans and animals, suggesting that altruistic acts are beneficial when they are likely to be returned in the future.

reciprocal altruism

Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This process leads to the gradual adaptation of species to their environments over successive generations, driving the diversity of life on Earth.

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