Genomic imprinting and culture in mammals

Genomic conflicts are potentially involved in the evolution and maintenance of culture. Maternal genes contributing to neocortical development could i nfluence biases in the acquisition of information. Specifically, relatednes s asymmetries due to multiple paternity are expected to lead to an increase d reliability and receptivity of matrilineally-transmitted information. Thi s view complements the gene-culture coevolutionary model adopted by Rendell and Whitehead.