Gene-Culture Co-Inheritance of Behavioral Traits: A Price Equation Approach

Explore the complex dynamics of gene-culture co-inheritance in this 48-minute seminar presented by Elliot Aguilar from the City University of New York at the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into a general model that illuminates the distinct roles of cultural and genetic inheritance systems and their interaction in driving the evolution of complex phenotypes. Examine a derived Price equation that incorporates both cultural and genetic inheritance of a phenotype with additive effects. Investigate whether genetically maladaptive traits can evolve under dual transmission, with a special focus on altruism. Learn how cultural selection can overcome genetic selection when cultural variance is sufficiently high, and discover how cultural transmission can modify genetic selection itself. Consider the impact of different timescales in genetic and cultural transmission. Gain insights into the evolution of important co-inherited behaviors and understand how this framework can generate quantitative estimates of selection pressures required for genetically maladaptive traits to evolve.