Sunday 22 April 2012

evolution - What are samples of "Outlaw Genes"

I read this in a paper




Keller and Ross describe their greenbeard gene as an ‘outlaw’.
Admittedly, the comment is only made in passing, but are they correct?
In this context an outlaw is usually defined as a gene whose action
favours itself, but opposes the reproductive interests of the
individual organism.
Where there are outlaws, natural selection at
different loci is pulling the organism in different directions.
Theoretically speaking, green-beard genes...




Yes: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140175083901562



Basically loving your children is outlaw because it makes you sacrifice resources for your children. However, if your interest is defined as maximizing the number of children, then it's just your stuff working properly. Outlaw genes will be something that makes you die for a cause or stuff like that I suppose.

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