Genetic conflicts of interest in plants.

Several features of the reproductive biology of seed plants have recently been explained using kin-selection interpretations. The simultaneous presence of tissues with different genetic make-ups during several phases of a seed-plant's life cycle is a feature that sets the conditions for agonistic interactions among selfish genes. The available empirical evidence indicates that genetic conflicts of interest are prevalent phenomena in seed plants. Recent research on the patterns of endosperm gene transmission provides a framework for new interpretations of the role of inclusive fitness in plants.