Altruism is the act of increasing another individual's lifetime number of offspring at a cost to one's own survival and reproduction (Dr. Hoffman, 2015). Some scientists believe that there are no examples of complete altruism in nature. In fact, some would go on to say that altruism goes against nature. However, most Naked Mole Rats do not reproduce, some scientists believe that mole-rats will decide to recognizable to their community members and become sterile rather than be without a colony. These mole-rats devote their entire lives to caring for offspring that are not their own.
Perhaps, altruism is the only way that naked mole rats could survive and have genetic continuity and security. Mole-rats are small, blind rodents and a few naked mole rats would not be able to defend their burrow, procreate, and forage for food. Instead mole-rats depend on highly inbred societies that pass on a large portion of the same genes and social hierarchy to be able to help their colony thrive.
Using Hamilton's rule, which the cost of an individual from the relatedness of that individual to the offspring and the benefits to the others, naked mole rats can have an average relatedness of 0.5 between the breeding female and the rest of the colony (Reeve et. al, 1990). An relatedness of 0.5 is usually reserved from parents and offspring. The increase in relatedness can cause higher instances of altruism and kin selection in naked mole rats.
Perhaps, altruism is the only way that naked mole rats could survive and have genetic continuity and security. Mole-rats are small, blind rodents and a few naked mole rats would not be able to defend their burrow, procreate, and forage for food. Instead mole-rats depend on highly inbred societies that pass on a large portion of the same genes and social hierarchy to be able to help their colony thrive.
Using Hamilton's rule, which the cost of an individual from the relatedness of that individual to the offspring and the benefits to the others, naked mole rats can have an average relatedness of 0.5 between the breeding female and the rest of the colony (Reeve et. al, 1990). An relatedness of 0.5 is usually reserved from parents and offspring. The increase in relatedness can cause higher instances of altruism and kin selection in naked mole rats.
The heading photograph comes from http://snowtaxonomy2013.wikispaces.com/Naked+mole+rat+(chordata).