XIII.3.2.2 Sexual reproduction can enhance an individual’s inclusive fitness

In order for a certain trait, a certain biological property to be the subject of individual natural selection, it is not necessary that it directly increase the viability or fertility of its carrier.It is sufficient if it increases the probability that close relatives, most frequently progeny and siblings, survive to reproductive age.In this case we speak about ”a trait increasing the inclusive fitness of the individual“ and the type of natural selection that is active in the evolution of this trait is called kin selection.The mechanism of kin selection is similar to individual selection, not group selection.

The elbow room hypothesis, the lottery model andthe model of negative heritability of fitness are amongst the models taking into consideration the positive effect of sexual reproduction on inclusive fitness.

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The classical Darwinian theory of evolution can explain the evolution of adaptive traits only in asexual organisms. The frozen plasticity theory is much more general: It can also explain the origin and evolution of adaptive traits in both asexual and sexual organisms Read more
Draft translation from: Evoluční biologie, 2. vydání (Evolutionary biology, 2nd edition), J. Flegr, Academia Prague 2009. The translation was not done by biologist, therefore any suggestion concerning proper scientific terminology and language usage are highly welcomed. You can send your comments to flegratcesnet [dot] cz. Thank you.