The Relation between Multilocus Population Genetics and Social Evolution Theory

Abstract

Evolution at multiple gene positions is complicated. Direct selection on one gene disturbs the evolutionary dynamics of associated genes. Recent years have seen the development of a multilocus methodology for modeling evolution at arbitrary numbers of gene positions with arbitrary dominance and epistatic relations, mode of inheritance, genetic linkage, and recombination. We show that the approach is conceptually analogous to social evolutionary methodology, which focuses on selection acting on associated individuals. In doing so, we (1) make explicit the links between the multilocus methodology and the foundations of social evolution theory, namely, Price's theorem and Hamilton's rule; (2) relate the multilocus approach to levels-of-selection and neighbor-modulated-fitness approaches in social evolution; (3) highlight the equivalence between genetical hitchhiking and kin selection; (4) demonstrate that the multilocus methodology allows for social evolutionary analyses involving coevolution of multiple traits and genetical associations between nonrelatives, including individuals of different species; (5) show that this methodology helps solve problems of dynamic sufficiency in social evolution theory; (6) form links between invasion criteria in multilocus systems and Hamilton's rule of kin selection; (7) illustrate the generality and exactness of Hamilton's rule, which has previously been described as an approximate, heuristic result.

Hamilton's rule, inclusive fitness maximization, and the goal of individual behaviour in symmetric two‐player games

“…Following Gardner et al . (, p. 219), we can write explicit expressions for − C and B in terms of r , p , and the parameters of the pay‐off matrix b , c and d . This yields: …”

Arms Race Between Selfishness and Policing: Two-Trait Quantitative Genetic Model for Caste Fate Conflict in Eusocial Hymenoptera

“…The present model assumes that the queen probability is a composite trait consisting of the two traits attributed to larva‐expressed and worker‐expressed genomes, and thus extends the scope of previous models with a single trait. The explicit assumption allows for an analysis of the coevolutionary dynamics of the social conflict, which is possible by inclusive fitness‐based approaches but has been much less explored (Gardner et al 2007; Brown and Taylor 2010). Moreover, multivariate quantitative genetic model of Iwasa et al (1991) enables us to incorporate complex association between traits, that is, additive genetic covariance, beyond a simple joint optimization of two independent traits.…”

“…Moreover, multivariate quantitative genetic model of Iwasa et al (1991) enables us to incorporate complex association between traits, that is, additive genetic covariance, beyond a simple joint optimization of two independent traits. Gardner et al (2007) pointed out a causal equivalence between genetic covariance between traits, which results in genetic hitchhiking, and relatedness between individuals, which results in kin selection. The former usually makes the optimization problem more complex and has been largely unexplored in the context of social evolution theory formulated by inclusive fitness‐based approaches (Gardner et al 2007).…”

Defining fitness in evolutionary models

“…Queller (1996) noted that it is phenotypes that interact, not genotypes, and suggested replacing r * with Cov(G A ,P O ) Cov(G A ,P A ) , where G A is the genetic value of the 'actor' or focal individual, P A is its phenotypic value and P O is the phenotypic value of the average phenotype (for other formulations of the relatedness coefficient, see Pepper 2000). Taylor et al (2006) expanded Hamilton's rule to a class-structured model, while Gardner et al (2007) provide a multilocus version of the rule. Oli (2002) provides a method of estimating inclusive fitness in an age-structured population using a Leslie matrix formulation.…”