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Friendship and natural selection - Coggle Diagram
Friendship and natural selection
What evidence is there to support this connection?
According to the paper's findings, friends exhibit more homophily between genomes than strangers (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Overlapping density shows that the kinship coefficient for friends is higher and the proportions of opposite genotypes is lower. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
On average friends have a kinship coefficient that is 0.0014 greater than strangers. This is similar to the relatedness of fourth cousins. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
It is possible for the same detection system used in determining kin to be used to distinguish potential friends. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
How can this be applied to science?
Genetic correlation between friends may help natural selection operate at a level beyond exclusively kinship. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Having friends that are similar enough in some regards but different enough in others can help prevent shortcomings such as susceptibility to diseases the other friend may not suffer from. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
It is possible to develop a predilection to homophily with non-related individuals to help speed up evolution. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Why is this relevant?
More than other species, humans form bonds with other members of their species who are neither kin nor mate but generally with those who simply share something in common. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Friends can be seen as functional kin.
Friendship is fundamental to human beings.
Citations
Christakis N.A., Fowler J.H. 2014. Friendship and natural selection. University of California. [Accessed 2024 Feb 28]
https://mycourses.spcollege.edu/content/enforced/372466-OFR_PCB4674_2620_0630/FRIENDSHIP%20AND%20SELECTION_PNAS-2014-Christakis-10796-801.pdf
Methods
Homophily among friends was evaluated with the kinship coefficient.
Positive values indicate a positive correlation between genomes. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Negative correlation indicates a negative correlation between genomes. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Measures of the correlation of the GWAS score was used to develop a friendship score. (Christakis & Fowler 2014)
Data from the Framinghnam Heart study was used to analyze 466,608 SNPs in 1,932 unique subjects. ((Christakis & Fowler 2014)