In a message dated 20/11/2006 12:37:30 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

Conversely in some wasp species - particularly those with closely  
related workers - policing was slack and nearly half the workers laid  
eggs. When workers were not closely related they policed each other  
more strictly.
From issue 2576 of New Scientist magazine, 01 November  2006, page 16




This is elucidated the following week in issue 2577 where, in an article  
headed 'Survival of the Nicest' its author Lee Alan Dugatkin explores altruism.  
He refers to a mathematical theory for its evolution devised by Bill Hamilton  
and now known as Hamilton's Rule.  It is a simple equation with 3  variables: 
the cost of altruism to the altruist (c), the benefit that a  recipient of 
altruism receives (b) and their genetic relatedness (r).
 
The Rule is that natural selection favours altruism when r x b >  c.
 
Chris

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