Question

5) One of the keys to understanding altruistic behavior is that ________.

A) the end result of what appears to be altruism on face value is actually an increase in the fitness of the "actor"
B) Darwin himself recognized that this is a fatal flaw in his theory of natural selection
C) other members of the population will share alleles with the "actor"
D) altruism is just another form of selfishness

Answer 1

Altruistic behavior often increases an individual's genetic fitness by aiding relatives with shared genes or through reciprocal benefits among unrelated individuals within a social group.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Altruistic Behavior in Biology

One of the keys to understanding altruistic behavior is the realization that the end result of what appears to be altruism is actually an increase in the fitness of the "actor". This concept is derived from the genetics of natural selection and is well-illustrated by the selfish gene theory proposed by Richard Dawkins. He suggested that what seems to be altruistic acts may benefit related individuals with shared genes, thereby promoting the actor's inclusive fitness.

Aside from kin selection, another form of altruism is reciprocal altruism, where unrelated individuals may cooperate with the expectation of future mutual benefit. This is often seen in social animals that live in close groups where such interactions can improve the chances of survival and reproduction for both parties involved. Evolutionary game theory, a branch of mathematics, explains that behaviors which improve an individual's ability to pass on their genes are favored by natural selection, whether they appear altruistic or not.