William D. Hamilton, considered by many the most influential evolutionary biologist of his generation, is best known for his genetic explanation of altruism. Hamilton argued in the 1960's that humans and other animals have a genetic tendency to act in ways that favor the survival of their relatives, and thus, perpetuate their own genetic profile. In considering the genetic basis of human behavior, Hamilton looked at what genes do, and how their choices are not really choices at all, but the effect of genetic programming.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, where his father was working as a civil engineer, Hamilton grew up in England and studied Zoology at Cambridge University. He continued his studies as a postgraduate at the London School of Economics and University College, London. Years later, Hamilton reflected that his work was largely ignored, and he was not even given a desk at University College. A...