Consider Figure 45.17 from your textbook. If the individual in the gray shaded box does not reproduce but its sibling has two offspring, then the individual in the gray shaded box will still make the same genetic contribution to the next generation as it would having one of its own offspring.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is because the individual in the gray shaded box shares half of its genes with its sibling who has two offspring. Therefore, the genetic contribution made by the individual in the gray shaded box is equivalent to the genetic contribution made by that sibling having one of their own offspring.