The selfish gene synopsis. The Selfish Gene Chapter 1: Why Are People? Summary & Analysis 2022-10-12
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The Selfish Gene is a 1976 book by Richard Dawkins that introduced the concept of the selfish gene as a way to understand evolution. The central premise of the book is that genes are the fundamental unit of natural selection, and that they are primarily motivated by self-interest.
Dawkins argues that genes are the driving force behind the behavior of living organisms, and that they are constantly striving to replicate themselves in order to ensure their own survival. This means that genes are not necessarily concerned with the welfare of the organism they are a part of, but rather with their own replication.
One of the key ideas in The Selfish Gene is the concept of kin selection, which is the idea that genes can increase their own fitness by promoting the survival and reproduction of closely related individuals. This can lead to behaviors that seem altruistic or selfless, but are actually driven by the selfish interests of the genes involved.
Another important concept in the book is the idea of the evolutionarily stable strategy, which is a strategy that will persist over time because it is more successful at replicating itself than any other strategy. This can be seen in the evolution of predator and prey species, where each evolves adaptations that allow them to better survive and reproduce.
The Selfish Gene has had a significant impact on the field of evolutionary biology and has helped to shape our understanding of how evolution works. It has also inspired a wide range of popular science writing, including Dawkins' own follow-up book, The Extended Phenotype.
Overall, The Selfish Gene is a thought-provoking and influential work that has helped to change the way we think about evolution and the role of genes in shaping the natural world.
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He believes that evolution happens to genes, not species. This perceived likelihood could come from a physical characteristic that the gene gives. For example, a human killing another human is one of the worst crimes possible, but we kill animals every day for food, in self-defense, or simply for sport. Next, the author uses the metaphor of a library to describe how chunks of DNA in the form of genes become instructions for building each living thing. A gene is a length of DNA protein chain instructions. Some scientists offer an alternative explanation for altruistic behavior, but Dawkins thinks they are wrong.
Group selectionists offer alternative explanations for all the behaviors Dawkins discusses in these six chapters. . Immortal Coils The innumerable forms of life on the planet are made with the same fundamental chemistry and molecules. The phenotypic effects of a gene are the tools by which it levers itself into the next generation. The fundamental units of natural selection, the basic things that survive or fail to survive, that form lineages of identical copies with occasional random mutations, are called replicators. Survival machines have one function: to keep genes in the gene pool.
For example, large animals are more likely to benefit from being aggressive than small animals. Survival machines of the same species interact even more often. For example, if there were a gene for purple hair, you might expect one purple-haired person to act altruistically toward another. Dawkins waited until the very last sentence of The Selfish Gene to reassure us that, in fact, we are welcome to chuck all those genes out the window: "We alone on earth can rebel against the tyranny of the selfish gene replicators. Then it discusses a strange quirk of reproduction: How most organisms begin as single cells, and why that fact is important—possibly necessary—for stability and evolution.
In extreme cases parents may even feed the runt to its siblings, or eat it themselves. Reaching an ESS usually though not always involves some balance of both—in fact, the only strategy that can never be an ESS is a pure caring strategy. To describe the gene as a program sending instructions to cells belittles the complexity of the gene. Environmental effects help to turn genes on and off resulting in bodily changes that change the individual's… What Makes You Who You Are The perennial debate about nature and nurture--which is the more potent shaper of the human essence? Last Updated on August 1, 2022. An organism is designed to allow the genes it contains to keep being passed on. The author uses lower level vocabulary and humor to keep the reader engaged. .
That song, in turn, is picked up by others and spreads throughout the population. As variation increases, genetic resources begin to deplete. Although supported by Dawkins and by many others, this claim continues to be disputed. Imagine the coach is mixing up candidates at random to see which ones work best as a rowing team. To look at biology in a new way requires that we consider what might be called the extended phenotype. Using the analogy of a computer, which is programmed by a human being, Dawkins says survival machines are indirectly controlled by their genes, which have programmed them for certain behaviors.
The replicator in this kind of evolution is the meme. You wouldn't buy an extended warranty on an iPod if you were only going to… Spencer's Theory Of Altruism Selfishness is perceived as bad traits were societies only care for oneself Selfishness, n. Ask rather 'Is there a vehicle in this situation and, if so, why? This apparent act of altruism may ultimately be an act of selfishness—in fact, considering the selfish gene theory, it must be. An Extended Phenotype To look at biology in a new way, starting from the genetic level, requires that we consider what might be called the extended phenotype. Why such altruistic behavior exist in nature? Just like the gene is the basic element of biological evolution, a meme is the basic element of culture.
This explains how ideas like celibacy, the practice of abstaining from marriage and sex, can survive. The Logic Behind the Selfish Gene Theory All behaviors in nature lead back to genes trying to copy themselves, which is the core of the selfish gene theory. There are no genes for interactions, as such: rather, each unique set of inherited genes contributes interactively to one unique phenotype. PDF from the original on 19 April 2012. For example, prey animals gain some protection from predators by living in groups. By the time those proteins were made and incorporated into the body, whatever stimulus they were responding to would be long over.
Thiessen, Mechanism specific approaches in behavior genetics, p. In the book, our bodies are described as throwaway survival machines where they simply exist to transport our genes forward. These two situations, parent vs. They can be predators, prey, parasites, or hosts. Therefore, everything we know about the Dilemma could be compared to nature. This fact limits the number of children a female can produce, while males can have an unlimited number of offspring. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Spring 2014 Edition.
DNA is a nucleic acid, a polymer made up of many molecules called nucleotides. Dawkins thinks that selfless behavior within families actually makes perfect sense, because relatives share genes. Genetically speaking, each is only valuable to the other in terms of their shared offspring. An interesting evolutionary arms race can be seen between certain species of songbirds and cuckoos who lay eggs in their nests, trying to trigger just such a misfire. Levels of Selection in Evolution. An older bird who has already mated has less to lose from fighting than a young one who has yet to mate.
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