David Sloan Wilson
Born	1949
Occupation	Professor of Biological Sciences
Parents	Sloan Wilson (father)

David Sloan Wilson (1949- ) is an American evolutionary biologist. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Evolutionary biology is a sub-field of Biology concerned with the origin of Species from a Common descent, and Descent of species Son of the author Sloan Wilson, David Sloan Wilson is a distinguished professor at Binghamton University. Sloan Wilson ( 8 May 1920 – 25 May 2003) was an American author The State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY Binghamton or Binghamton University is one of the four university centers in New York State’s system of He is a prominent proponent of the concept of group selection (aka multi-level selection) in evolution. In Evolutionary biology, group selection refers to the idea that Alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups regardless In Evolutionary biology, group selection refers to the idea that Alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups regardless He has, along with Elliott Sober in their book Unto Others proposed a framework called multilevel selection theory, which incorporates the more orthodox approach of gene-level selection and individual selection. Elliott Sober is Hans Reichenbach Professor and William F Vilas Research Professor in the Department of Philosophy at University of Wisconsin-Madison. In Evolutionary biology, group selection refers to the idea that Alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups regardless This framework argues that while genes serve as the means by which organisms' designs are transmitted across generations, individuals and groups are vehicles for those genes and both are arenas for genes to act on. Indeed, genes themselves can be affected by selection, not just because of their effects on the design of their vehicle (the organism) but also because of their effect on the functioning of the DNA on which they reside. Hence, the notion of multilevel selection. Wilson has also coined the concept of a trait-group, a group of organisms linked not permanently as a group but having a shared fate due to interactions that they have.

Wilson's book Darwin's Cathedral proposes that religion is a multi-level adaptation, a product of cultural evolution developed through a process of multi-level selection. In Evolutionary biology, group selection refers to the idea that Alleles can become fixed or spread in a population because of the benefits they bestow on groups regardless

His latest book Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives attempts to give an introduction to evolution for a broad audience, detailing the various ways in which evolution can be applied to everyday affairs.

Wilson started the Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) program at Binghamton University to provide a program that unifies diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Students in the program take evolution-themed courses in a variety of disciplines including biology, anthropology, psychology, bioengineering, and philosophy. SUNY New Paltz has started a similar program. The State University of New York at New Paltz, known as SUNY New Paltz for short is a public University in New Paltz New York.

External links

• Wilson's personal homepage
• "Darwin's God" article in New York Times Magazine for March 4, 2007. Includes interview with Wilson.
• "Evolution: Survival of the selfless" article written with E. O. Wilson in New Scientist, 03 November, 2007
• Video: Evolution and Religion
• Video: Ethics and the University