I am currently a college student and I took Anthropology last year for GE credit. They claim that the "selfless" gene was past on because people with it are more liable to risk their lives for those in their immediate family since humanity lived in small familial clans and roamed around back then.

For example, if I had the selfless gene and a bear went after my family and I protected my family from it (or I died protecting them) my genes have a greater chance to be passed on because even if I died my family would live and since they carry some of my genetic material, the "selfless" gene would survive.

This is how they explain altruism scientifically. Now, I'm far from a anthropology or biology major but it seems plausible.

The whole question of ID versus evolution is interesting. I have a bias towards the evolutionary view just because that's the view that was taught to me in public schools, but I think that I am open minded to others' viewpoints.
Ron | 05.25.06 - 1:49 am | #