Forward and backward modeling of cultural evolutionary processes.

ABSTRACT: Modern cultural evolution theory adopts a variety of concepts and methods developed in mathematical biology, in particular population genetics theory. In addition to forward-looking approaches such as two-locus models, backward-looking approaches such as coalescent theory, which describe ancestral states of the current population, have played an important role in population genetics. Here, we show how forward and backward approaches can be applied to two examples in cultural evolution. The first example deals with the number of cultural traits, which can be analyzed by a backward approach. Cultural coalescent theory illustrates many unique aspects of cultural processes such as information transfer (i.e., social learning) from many donors ("cultural parents"), including or excluding the bio

SUBMITTER: Wakano JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11621620 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature