Wd hamilton biography

Wd hamilton biography: William Donald Hamilton FRS

This mathematical formula underlies the theory of inclusive fitness which examines the evolution of altruistic behaviour. He produced other extremely influential theories in evolutionary biology, such as the evolution of sex ratios and meiotic drive, insect sociality, group formation by unrelated individuals, senescence and dispersal. Sincethe English Wikipedia page of W.

Hamilton has received more thanpage views. His biography is available in 28 different languages on Wikipedia up from 26 in Hamilton is the th most popular biologist down from nd inthe th most popular biography from Egypt wd hamilton biography from st in and the most popular Egyptian Biologist. Among biologists, W. Collected papers [ change change source ].

References [ change change source ]. Archived from the original on 4 March Retrieved 24 November Narrow roads of geneland: the collected papers of W. Hamiltonvol 1. His collected papers, entitled Narrow Roads of Gene Landbegan to be published in The first volume was entitled Evolution of Social Behaviour. The field of social evolutionof which Hamilton's Rule has central importance, is broadly defined as being the study of the evolution of social behaviours, i.

Social behaviours can be categorized according to the fitness consequences they entail for the actor and recipient. A behaviour that increases the direct fitness of the actor is mutually beneficial if the recipient also benefits, and selfish if the recipient suffers a loss. A behaviour that reduces the fitness of the actor is altruistic if the recipient benefits, and spiteful if the recipient suffers a loss.

This classification was first proposed by Hamilton in Hamilton also proposed the coevolution theory of autumn leaf color as an example of evolutionary signalling theory. During the s, Hamilton became interested in the now-discredited hypothesis that the origin of HIV lay in Hilary Koprowski 's oral polio vaccine trials in Africa during the s.

Hamilton's letter on the topic to Science journal was rejected in To look for evidence of the hypothesis, Hamilton went on a field trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to assess natural levels of simian immunodeficiency virus in primates. Hamilton returned to London from Africa on 29 January He was transferred to Middlesex Hospital on 5 February and died there on 7 March An inquest was held on 10 May at Westminster Coroner's Court to inquire into rumours about the cause of his death.

The coroner concluded that his death was due to "multi-organ failure due to upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to a duodenal diverticulum and arterial bleed through a mucosal ulcer ". Following reports attributing his death to complications arising from malariathe BBC Editorial Complaints Unit's investigation established that he had contracted malaria during his final African expedition.

However, the pathologist had suggested the possibility that the ulceration and consequent haemorrhage had resulted from a pill which might have been taken because of malarial symptoms lodging in the diverticulum; but, even if this suggestion were correct, the link between malaria and the observed causes of death would be entirely indirect.

A secular memorial service he was an agnostic [ 17 ] was held at the chapel of New College, Oxford on 1 Julyorganised by Richard Dawkins. He was buried near Wytham Woods.

Wd hamilton biography: William Donald Hamilton was a

He, however, had written an essay on My intended burial and why in which he wrote: [ 18 ]. I will leave a sum in my last will for my body to be carried to Brazil and to these forests. It will be laid out in a manner secure against the possums and the vultures just as we make our chickens secure; and this great Coprophanaeus beetle will bury me.

They will enter, will bury, will live on my flesh; and in the shape of their children and mine, I will escape death. No worm for me nor sordid fly, I will buzz in the dusk like a huge bumble bee.

Wd hamilton biography: William Donald Hamilton FRS (1 August

I will be many, buzz even as a swarm of motorbikes, be borne, body by flying body out into the Brazilian wilderness beneath the stars, lofted under those beautiful and un-fused elytra which we will all hold over our backs. So finally I too will shine like a violet ground beetle under a stone. The second volume of his collected papers, Evolution of Sexwas published inand the third and final volume, Last Wordsin Hamilton started to publish his collected papers inalong the lines of Fisher's collected papers, with short essays giving each paper context.

He died after the preparation of the second volume, so the essays for the third volume come from his coauthors. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikiquote Wikidata item. British evolutionary biologist — CairoEgypt. FitzroviaLondonUnited Kingdom.

Early life [ edit ]. Hamilton's rule [ edit ].