Question

What is the smallest number of full first cousins that would have to benefit from a behavior with a benefit of 1.0 fitness units if enacting the behavior cost 0.25 fitness units?

Answer 1

According to Hamilton`s rule

Br>C

r is the coefficient of relatedness.

B= benefit=1

C= cost=0.25

r between first cousins is 1/8

( individual inherit half of the genetic material from one parent, parent and their sibling share half of the DNA, sibling share half of the DNA with the progeny, so the total relatedness= 1/21/21/2=1/8)

when number of first cousins =2

Br=C

21/81=0.25

smallest number of full first cousins that would have to benefit from a behavior with a benefit of 1.0 fitness units if enacting the behavior cost 0.25 fitness units= 3