Richard Dawkins talks gracefully about the role genetics play in evolution, genes, and more in “The Selfish Gene.”
The first chapters explain the selfish gene well. The mechanism and nature of DNA are the small units that make up our genes that pass through generations of life. The gene is called ‘Selfish Gene’ in the title because genes are the genetic unit that is solely concerned with its survival, while promoting its own transmission at the expense of its enemies.
Genes are the ‘survival machines’ because they use our bodies to duplicate, not the other way around. This simple concept is quite revolutionary.
Breaking it all down, Richard discusses the tasks of genes, in particular the role they play in parenting, families, relationships between the sexes, altruism, selfishness, and many other tasks.
The author also writes about a new type of replicator: the memes that copy ideas, music, fashion and philosophies in our world.
The last chapter on the selfish gene deals with the extended phenotype theory, which is again an interesting topic. Biologists have been puzzled because this concept means that chemical reactions (triggered by genes) in one body can affect chemical reactions (leading to desired behavior) in other bodies. In other words, the theory explains that the behavior of a parasite or insect can cause changes in the behavior of other animals.
The Selfish Gene is a strikingly beautiful book on evolution from the point of view of geneticists. It is thoughtful and insightful while being a manageable read, the topics discussed are at the forefront of science, excellent.
