Hello,

Does the Price Equation, when it comes to explain how the altruism trait can spread throughout the population, break down if a group has only one individual who has the trait?
In other words, when applying the Price Equation to altruism, is there a lower bound beyond which the Equation doesn't work?
If the Equation needs more than one altruistic individual (and actually many individuals) within the group, is it not the case that the Price Equation is a non starter when is comes to explain how altruism can spread within the population?

 

Here's a link to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_equation

 

BTW, I also posted the question in the Biology Section, but I didn't get any answers.

Thanks

Edited June 17, 201312 yr by shmulik

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Moderator Note

 

There are responses in the other thread http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/75914-price-equation-and-altruism/

 

Locked.