The enhanced reproduction, through apparently altruistic behavior, of related individuals with common alleles is referred to as __________.

• A. Hamilton's rule
• B. competitive exclusion
• C. adaptive radiation
• D. the coefficient of relatedness
• E. kin selection

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key concept in the problem: The problem is asking about a biological phenomenon where individuals enhance the reproduction of their relatives, which involves altruistic behavior.
2. Understand the term 'altruistic behavior': In biology, altruistic behavior refers to actions that benefit other individuals at a cost to oneself. This is often observed in social animals where individuals may sacrifice their own reproductive opportunities to help relatives.
3. Recognize the role of common alleles: The problem mentions 'related individuals with common alleles,' which suggests a genetic basis for the behavior. This is important because it implies that the behavior is beneficial for the propagation of shared genes.
4. Connect the concept to the term 'kin selection': Kin selection is a form of natural selection where individuals increase the reproductive success of their relatives, even at a cost to their own survival or reproduction, because it helps propagate shared genes.
5. Relate the concept to Hamilton's rule: Hamilton's rule is a principle that predicts when altruistic behavior will evolve. It states that altruism is favored by natural selection if the genetic relatedness of the recipient to the actor, multiplied by the benefit to the recipient, exceeds the cost to the actor.