Genes which are harmful to individuals can indeed propagate if they are beneficial to the group. If a group that contains a gene is fitter than another which d

Genes which are harmful to individuals can indeed propagate if they are beneficial to the group. If a group that contains a gene is fitter than another which does not, a gene may propagate even if it is harmful to individuals in certain situations. Presumably this is how altruism, community, and patriotism evolved. Kids die in battle all the time, even with no close family members to protect; chalk it up to a gene for "duty."