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Darwin's Disciples

On natural selection and social behavior.

Animal Behavior
The Well-Connected Animal

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on May 20, 2024

Discover the social networks formed between nonhuman animals. These networks show the complexity, depth, and wonder of life in animal societies.

Discover the social networks formed between nonhuman animals. These networks show the complexity, depth, and wonder of life in animal societies.

Animal Behavior
How COVID Influenced Animal Behavior

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on November 27, 2023

The worldwide behavioral isolation that occurred during COVID led to a dramatic decrease in contact between humans and wildlife, in what has been dubbed the “anthropause.”

The worldwide behavioral isolation that occurred during COVID led to a dramatic decrease in contact between humans and wildlife, in what has been dubbed the “anthropause.”

Peter Kropotkin
Empathy
Empathy in Nonhumans: Of Peter Kropotkin and Adam Smith

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on January 20, 2021

Russian evolutionary biologist and anarchist Peter Kropotkin was not satisfied with his evolutionary theory for mutual aid: He turned to Scottish economist Adam Smith.

Russian evolutionary biologist and anarchist Peter Kropotkin was not satisfied with his evolutionary theory for mutual aid: He turned to Scottish economist Adam Smith.

Habit Formation
Want to Build a Dog From A Fox? Here's How To Do It.

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on March 23, 2017

Tucked away in Siberia, there are furry, four-legged creatures with wagging tails that are as friendly as any lapdog. But, despite appearances, these are not dogs—they are foxes.

Tucked away in Siberia, there are furry, four-legged creatures with wagging tails that are as friendly as any lapdog. But, despite appearances, these are not dogs—they are foxes.

Teamwork
Evolution: The Super-Duper Big Stuff

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on September 29, 2014

There is nothing inherent in the process of evolution by natural selection that necessarily leads up to a buildup of complexity over time. But we see trends like an increase in body size, an increase in number of different cell types, an increase in number of protein-coding genes and in increase in total genome size.

There is nothing inherent in the process of evolution by natural selection that necessarily leads up to a buildup of complexity over time. But we see trends like an increase in body size, an increase in number of different cell types, an increase in number of protein-coding genes and in increase in total genome size.

Evolutionary Psychology
Warning: This Car May Cause Natural Selection

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on March 14, 2014

I can just see it now. A Ford Motor Company press release that reads “All Ford cars will now have the following printed on their dashboards: Warning: This Car May Cause Natural Selection.”

I can just see it now. A Ford Motor Company press release that reads “All Ford cars will now have the following printed on their dashboards: Warning: This Car May Cause Natural Selection.”

Cognition
If Scientists Had Super Powers...

Lee Alan Dugatkin Ph.D. on January 8, 2013

Sometimes it is worth not considering the constraints of the world as they are now. Sometimes, it is worth thinking about what you would do as a scientist, if you had super powers, and could test any hypothesis you wanted, in any way you wanted.

Sometimes it is worth not considering the constraints of the world as they are now. Sometimes, it is worth thinking about what you would do as a scientist, if you had super powers, and could test any hypothesis you wanted, in any way you wanted.