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The Selfish Gene: Understanding the Revolutionary Theory That Changed Biology
Have you ever wondered why we act the way we do? Why are we driven by seemingly contradictory impulses – self-preservation alongside altruism, competition alongside cooperation? The answer, according to Richard Dawkins' groundbreaking concept, may lie in the "selfish gene." This isn't about genes being morally selfish, but about understanding how natural selection operates at the gene level, profoundly shaping the behaviors and characteristics of all living organisms, including ourselves. This post delves deep into the theory of the selfish gene, exploring its implications for evolution, human behavior, and our understanding of life itself. We’ll unpack the core concepts, address common misconceptions, and illuminate its ongoing relevance in modern biology.
What is the Selfish Gene Theory?
The "selfish gene" isn't a literal, sentient entity with malicious intent. Dawkins' theory proposes that the fundamental unit of selection in evolution is the gene, not the individual organism or even the species. Genes, passed down through generations, strive for replication – their ultimate aim is to perpetuate their own existence in the gene pool. Organisms, in this view, are merely temporary "survival machines" built by genes to facilitate their own propagation. This doesn't imply conscious intention on the part of the gene; rather, it's a descriptive model illustrating the consequences of differential gene replication. Genes that promote survival and reproduction in their host organisms are more likely to be passed on, effectively becoming "selfish" in their drive for survival.
Misconceptions about the Selfish Gene
A common misunderstanding is that the theory promotes a purely selfish and brutal view of life, devoid of altruism or cooperation. This is inaccurate. The theory acknowledges the existence of altruistic behaviors, but explains them through the lens of kin selection and reciprocal altruism. These behaviors, seemingly selfless, can still ultimately benefit the propagation of the genes shared between related individuals (kin selection) or through reciprocal acts that benefit both parties in the long run (reciprocal altruism). The "selfishness" lies in the underlying genetic advantage, not necessarily in the observable behavior itself.
Kin Selection: The Selfish Gene's Family Ties
Kin selection explains altruistic behavior towards relatives. Helping relatives survive and reproduce increases the chances of shared genes being passed on, even if it means personal sacrifice. This is why we often see animals exhibiting protective behavior toward their offspring or close kin. The "selfishness" of the gene is manifested in its indirect propagation through the success of related individuals carrying the same genes.
Reciprocal Altruism: Cooperation for Mutual Benefit
Reciprocal altruism explains seemingly selfless acts between unrelated individuals. These acts often involve an initial cost to the actor, but with the expectation of future reciprocal benefit. This type of interaction, often observed in social animals, relies on the recognition of individuals and the ability to remember past interactions. The long-term benefit of reciprocal altruism outweighs the immediate cost, ensuring the survival and propagation of genes associated with this cooperative behavior.
The Selfish Gene and Human Behavior
Applying the selfish gene theory to human behavior offers a compelling framework for understanding complex social dynamics. Our behaviors, from parental care to aggression and cooperation, can be interpreted as strategies employed by our genes to maximize their chances of replication. However, it's crucial to remember that human behavior is incredibly complex and influenced by a multitude of factors beyond genetic predispositions. Culture, learning, and individual experiences all play significant roles. The selfish gene theory provides a crucial, but not exhaustive, perspective.
Implications and Criticisms of the Selfish Gene Theory
The selfish gene theory has been both incredibly influential and subject to considerable debate. It has revolutionized evolutionary biology, providing a new and powerful lens through which to analyze the evolution of complex traits and behaviors. However, critics argue that it oversimplifies the intricacies of evolutionary processes and potentially neglects the importance of other levels of selection, such as group selection. The ongoing debate enriches our understanding of evolutionary mechanisms and the complex interplay of genes, organisms, and environments.
Conclusion
Richard Dawkins' "selfish gene" theory, while potentially misunderstood, provides a revolutionary framework for understanding evolution. It shifts the focus from the organism to the gene as the primary unit of selection, offering explanations for seemingly altruistic behaviors through mechanisms like kin selection and reciprocal altruism. While not without its criticisms, the theory remains a cornerstone of modern evolutionary biology, enriching our understanding of life's complexity and the intricate dance between genes and the organisms they create.
FAQs
1. Is the selfish gene theory deterministic? No, the selfish gene theory doesn't dictate specific behaviors. It provides a framework for understanding how genes influence behavior, but environmental and developmental factors also play crucial roles.
2. Does the selfish gene theory negate free will? The theory doesn't directly address free will, a complex philosophical concept. It suggests genetic influences on behavior, but doesn't preclude the existence of conscious choice and free will.
3. How does the selfish gene theory relate to group selection? The selfish gene theory emphasizes individual gene selection, while group selection suggests that groups of organisms with advantageous traits can be favored. There’s ongoing debate about the relative importance of these mechanisms.
4. Can the selfish gene theory explain cultural evolution? While primarily focused on biological evolution, the concepts of replication and selection can be applied to cultural evolution, where ideas and behaviors are passed down and selected based on their success within a society.
5. What are some practical applications of the selfish gene theory? Understanding the selfish gene helps in areas like conservation biology (understanding animal behavior), medicine (developing treatments for genetic diseases), and even social sciences (analyzing cooperation and competition).
| selfish gene: The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins, 1989 Science need not be dull and bogged down by jargon, as Richard Dawkins proves in this entertaining look at evolution. The themes he takes up are the concepts of altruistic and selfish behaviour; the genetical definition of selfish interest; the evolution of aggressive behaviour; kinshiptheory; sex ratio theory; reciprocal altruism; deceit; and the natural selection of sex differences. 'Should be read, can be read by almost anyone. It describes with great skill a new face of the theory of evolution.' W.D. Hamilton, Science |
| selfish gene: The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins, 2006-03-16 The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages. This 30th anniversary edition includes a new introduction from the author as well as the original prefaces and foreword, and extracts from early reviews. As relevant and influential today as when it was first published, The Selfish Gene has become a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. Professor Dawkins articulates a gene's eye view of evolution - a view giving centre stage to these persistent units of information, and in which organisms can be seen as vehicles for their replication. This imaginative, powerful, and stylistically brilliant work not only brought the insights of Neo-Darwinism to a wide audience, but galvanized the biology community, generating much debate and stimulating whole new areas of research. |
| selfish gene: The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins, 2016-05-26 The million copy international bestseller, critically acclaimed and translated into over 25 languages. As influential today as when it was first published, The Selfish Gene has become a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. Professor Dawkins articulates a gene's eye view of evolution - a view giving centre stage to these persistent units of information, and in which organisms can be seen as vehicles for their replication. This imaginative, powerful, and stylistically brilliant work not only brought the insights of Neo-Darwinism to a wide audience, but galvanized the biology community, generating much debate and stimulating whole new areas of research. Forty years later, its insights remain as relevant today as on the day it was published. This 40th anniversary edition includes a new epilogue from the author discussing the continuing relevance of these ideas in evolutionary biology today, as well as the original prefaces and foreword, and extracts from early reviews. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think. |
| selfish gene: The Society of Genes Itai Yanai, Martin Lercher, 2016-01-11 Nearly four decades ago Richard Dawkins published The Selfish Gene, famously reducing humans to “survival machines” whose sole purpose was to preserve “the selfish molecules known as genes.” How these selfish genes work together to construct the organism, however, remained a mystery. Standing atop a wealth of new research, The Society of Genes now provides a vision of how genes cooperate and compete in the struggle for life. Pioneers in the nascent field of systems biology, Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher present a compelling new framework to understand how the human genome evolved and why understanding the interactions among our genes shifts the basic paradigm of modern biology. Contrary to what Dawkins’s popular metaphor seems to imply, the genome is not made of individual genes that focus solely on their own survival. Instead, our genomes comprise a society of genes which, like human societies, is composed of members that form alliances and rivalries. In language accessible to lay readers, The Society of Genes uncovers genetic strategies of cooperation and competition at biological scales ranging from individual cells to entire species. It captures the way the genome works in cancer cells and Neanderthals, in sexual reproduction and the origin of life, always underscoring one critical point: that only by putting the interactions among genes at center stage can we appreciate the logic of life. |
| selfish gene: Genes in Conflict Austin Burt, Robert Trivers, 2006 In evolution, most genes survive and spread within populations because they increase the ability of their hosts (or their close relatives) to survive and reproduce. But some genes spread in spite of being harmful to the host organism—by distorting their own transmission to the next generation, or by changing how the host behaves toward relatives. As a consequence, different genes in a single organism can have diametrically opposed interests and adaptations.Covering all species from yeast to humans, Genes in Conflict is the first book to tell the story of selfish genetic elements, those continually appearing stretches of DNA that act narrowly to advance their own replication at the expense of the larger organism. As Austin Burt and Robert Trivers show, these selfish genes are a universal feature of life with pervasive effects, including numerous counter-adaptations. Their spread has created a whole world of socio-genetic interactions within individuals, usually completely hidden from sight.Genes in Conflict introduces the subject of selfish genetic elements in all its aspects, from molecular and genetic to behavioral and evolutionary. Burt and Trivers give us access for the first time to a crucial area of research—now developing at an explosive rate—that is cohering as a unitary whole, with its own logic and interconnected questions, a subject certain to be of enduring importance to our understanding of genetics and evolution. |
| selfish gene: The Solitary Self Mary Midgley, 2010 Argues that simple, on-sided accounts of human motives, such as the selfish gene in neo-Darwinian thought, are always unrealistic and do not derive from Darwin's writings. |
| selfish gene: From Gaia to Selfish Genes Connie Barlow, 1992-07-08 From Gaia to Selfish Genes is a different kind of anthology. Lively excerpts from the popular writings of leading theorists in the life sciences blend in a seamless presentation of the controversies and bold ideas driving contemporary biological research. Selections span scales from the biosphere to the cell and DNA, and disciplines from global ecology to behavior and genetics, and also reveals the links between biology and philosophy. They plunge the reader into debates about heredity and environment, competition and cooperation, randomness and determinism, and the meaning of individuality. From Gaia to Selfish Genes conveys the technical and conceptual roots of current scientific theories beginning with the planetary perspective of James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis and concluding with the reductionist views of Richard Dawkins and E. 0. Wilson. The contrasting worldviews, coupled with excerpts drawn from critics of each theory, encourage readers to examine their own presuppositions. In addition to the scientists' portrayal of the Gaia hypothesis, symbiosis in cell evolution, hierarchy theory, systems theory, game theory, sociobiology, and the selfish gene, the text is rich in autobiographical passages and biographies. By presenting the human side of research, From Gaia to Selfish Genes reveals the social context and interactions, the motivations and range of cognitive styles that comprise the scientific endeavor. Concluding essays written expressly for this book by Lynn Margulis, John Maynard Smith, W. Ford Doolittle, and others underscore the importance of such diversity. Connie Barlow is a science writer currently living in New York City. The scientists include: Robert Axelrod. Richard D. Alexander. Ludwig von Bertalanffy. Leo W. Buss. Francis Crick. Richard Dawkins. W. Ford Doolittle. Douglas Hofstadter. Julian Huxley. Leon J. Kamin. Philip Kitcher. Richard C. Lewontin. James Lovelock. Lynn Margulis. Ashley Montagu. Leslie Orgel. Steven Rose. Carmen Sapienza. John Maynard Smith. Lewis Thomas. Gerald Weinberg. E. 0. Wilson. Robert Wright. The science writers include: Lawrence Joseph. Arthur Koestler. Francesca Lyman. Jeanne McDermott. Richard Monastersky. Dorion Sagan. |
| selfish gene: The Gene's-Eye View of Evolution J. Arvid Ågren, 2021-07-21 To many evolutionary biologists, the central challenge of their discipline is to explain adaptation, the appearance of design in the living world. With the theory of evolution by natural selection, Charles Darwin elegantly showed how a purely mechanistic process can achieve this striking feature of nature. Since then, the way many biologists have thought about evolution and natural selection is as a theory about individual organisms. Over a century later, a subtle but radical shift in perspective emerged with the gene's-eye view of evolution in which natural selection was conceptualized as a struggle between genes for replication and transmission to the next generation. This viewpoint culminated with the publication of The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (Oxford University Press, 1976) and is now commonly referred to as selfish gene thinking. The gene's-eye view has subsequently played a central role in evolutionary biology, although it continues to attract controversy. The central aim of this accessible book is to show how the gene's-eye view differs from the traditional organismal account of evolution, trace its historical origins, clarify typical misunderstandings and, by using examples from contemporary experimental work, show why so many evolutionary biologists still consider it an indispensable heuristic. The book concludes by discussing how selfish gene thinking fits into ongoing debates in evolutionary biology, and what they tell us about the future of the gene's-eye view of evolution.-- |
| selfish gene: Dawkins and the Selfish Gene Ed Sexton, 2001 The biologist Richard Dawkins is renowned for his theory of 'the selfish gene'. But what does this theory really say, and why do so many people object to it? |
| selfish gene: The Genial Gene Joan Roughgarden, 2009-04-20 Are selfishness and individuality—rather than kindness and cooperation—basic to biological nature? Does a selfish gene create universal sexual conflict? In The Genial Gene, Joan Roughgarden forcefully rejects these and other ideas that have come to dominate the study of animal evolution. Building on her brilliant and innovative book Evolution's Rainbow, in which she challenged accepted wisdom about gender identity and sexual orientation, Roughgarden upends the notion of the selfish gene and the theory of sexual selection and develops a compelling and controversial alternative theory called social selection. This scientifically rigorous, model-based challenge to an important tenet of neo-Darwinian theory emphasizes cooperation, elucidates the factors that contribute to evolutionary success in a gene pool or animal social system, and vigorously demonstrates that to identify Darwinism with selfishness and individuality misrepresents the facts of life as we now know them. |
| selfish gene: Biological Emergences Robert G. B. Reid, 2009-08-21 A critique of selectionism and the proposal of an alternate theory of emergent evolution that is causally sufficient for evolutionary biology. Natural selection is commonly interpreted as the fundamental mechanism of evolution. Questions about how selection theory can claim to be the all-sufficient explanation of evolution often go unanswered by today's neo-Darwinists, perhaps for fear that any criticism of the evolutionary paradigm will encourage creationists and proponents of intelligent design. In Biological Emergences, Robert Reid argues that natural selection is not the cause of evolution. He writes that the causes of variations, which he refers to as natural experiments, are independent of natural selection; indeed, he suggests, natural selection may get in the way of evolution. Reid proposes an alternative theory to explain how emergent novelties are generated and under what conditions they can overcome the resistance of natural selection. He suggests that what causes innovative variation causes evolution, and that these phenomena are environmental as well as organismal. After an extended critique of selectionism, Reid constructs an emergence theory of evolution, first examining the evidence in three causal arenas of emergent evolution: symbiosis/association, evolutionary physiology/behavior, and developmental evolution. Based on this evidence of causation, he proposes some working hypotheses, examining mechanisms and processes common to all three arenas, and arrives at a theoretical framework that accounts for generative mechanisms and emergent qualities. Without selectionism, Reid argues, evolutionary innovation can more easily be integrated into a general thesis. Finally, Reid proposes a biological synthesis of rapid emergent evolutionary phases and the prolonged, dynamically stable, non-evolutionary phases imposed by natural selection. |
| selfish gene: How to Build a Dinosaur Jack Horner, James Gorman, 2009-03-19 A world-renowned paleontologist reveals groundbreaking science that trumps science fiction: how to grow a living dinosaur. Over a decade after Jurassic Park, Jack Horner and his colleagues in molecular biology labs are in the process of building the technology to create a real dinosaur. Based on new research in evolutionary developmental biology on how a few select cells grow to create arms, legs, eyes, and brains that function together, Jack Horner takes the science a step further in a plan to reverse evolution and reveals the awesome, even frightening, power being acquired to recreate the prehistoric past. The key is the dinosaur's genetic code that lives on in modern birds- even chickens. From cutting-edge biology labs to field digs underneath the Montana sun, How to Build a Dinosaur explains and enlightens an awesome new science. |
| selfish gene: The Extended Phenotype Richard Dawkins, 2016 In The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins crystallized the gene's eye view of evolution developed by W.D. Hamilton and others. The book provoked widespread and heated debate. Written in part as a response, The Extended Phenotype gave a deeper clarification of the central concept of the gene as the unit of selection; but it did much more besides. In it, Dawkins extended the gene's eye view to argue that the genes that sit within an organism have an influence that reaches out beyond the visible traits in that body - the phenotype - to the wider environment, which can include other individuals. So, for instance, the genes of the beaver drive it to gather twigs to produce the substantial physical structure of a dam; and the genes of the cuckoo chick produce effects that manipulate the behaviour of the host bird, making it nurture the intruder as one of its own. This notion of the extended phenotype has proved to be highly influential in the way we understand evolution and the natural world. It represents a key scientific contribution to evolutionary biology, and it continues to play an important role in research in the life sciences. The Extended Phenotype is a conceptually deep book that forms important reading for biologists and students. But Dawkins' clear exposition is accessible to all who are prepared to put in a little effort. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think. |
| selfish gene: Richard Dawkins Alan Grafen, Mark Ridley, 2007 This sparkling collection explores the impact of Richard Dawkins as scientist, rationalist, and one of the most important thinkers alive today. Specially commissioned pieces by leading figures in science, philosophy, literature, and the media, such as Daniel C. Dennett, Matt Ridley, Steven Pinker, Philip Pullman, and the Bishop of Oxford, highlight the breadth and range of Dawkins' influence on modern science and culture, from the gene's eye view of evolution to his energetic engagement in public debates on science, rationalism, and religion. The volume includes personal reminiscences and critical debate as well as accessible discussions of science - it provides a stimulating tribute to a remarkable intellectual. |
| selfish gene: Why Genes Are Not Selfish and People Are Nice Colin Tudge, 2013-03-21 The modern world is dominated by ideas that are threatening to kill us: that life is one long battle from conception to grave; that all creatures, including human beings, are driven by their selfish DNA; that the universe is just stuff, for us to use at will. These ideas are seen as emerging from science and hard-nosed philosophy, and become self-fulfilling. They have led us to create a world in perpetual strife,that is unjust and in many ways precarious. This remarkable book by an experienced author and thinker argues there's another way of looking at the world that is just as rooted in modern science, and yet says precisely the opposite: that life is in fact cooperative; all creatures, including human beings, are basically nice; that there's more to the 'stuff' of the world than meets the eye. This book is both a powerful call to rethink our assumptions, and a message of hope for those who believe we're doomed to self-destruction. |
| selfish gene: The 100 Best Nonfiction Books of All Time Robert McCrum, 2018 Beginning in 1611 with the King James Bible and ending in 2014 with Elizabeth Kolbert's 'The Sixth Extinction', this extraordinary voyage through the written treasures of our culture examines universally-acclaimed classics such as Pepys' 'Diaries', Charles Darwin's 'The Origin of Species', Stephen Hawking's 'A Brief History of Time' and a whole host of additional works -- |
| selfish gene: Prisoners of Reason S. M. Amadae, 2016-01-14 Using the theory of Prisoner's Dilemma, Prisoners of Reason explores how neoliberalism departs from classic liberalism and how it rests on game theory. |
| selfish gene: The Music of Life Denis Noble, 2008-02-14 What is Life? Decades of research have resulted in the full mapping of the human genome - three billion pairs of code whose functions are only now being understood. The gene's eye view of life, advocated by evolutionary biology, sees living bodies as mere vehicles for the replication of the genetic codes. But for a physiologist, working with the living organism, the view is a very different one. Denis Noble is a world renowned physiologist, and sets out an alternative view to the question - one that becomes deeply significant in terms of the living, breathing organism. The genome is not life itself. Noble argues that far from genes building organisms, they should be seen as prisoners of the organism. The view of life presented in this little, modern, post-genome project reflection on the nature of life, is that of the systems biologist: to understand what life is, we must view it at a variety of different levels, all interacting with each other in a complex web. It is that emergent web, full of feedback between levels, from the gene to the wider environment, that is life. It is a kind of music. Including stories from Noble's own research experience, his work on the heartbeat, musical metaphors, and elements of linguistics and Chinese culture, this very personal and at times deeply lyrical book sets out the systems biology view of life. |
| selfish gene: The Selfish Meme Kate Distin, 2005 Publisher Description |
| selfish gene: Virolution Frank Ryan, 2013-11-28 The extraordinary role of viruses in evolution and how this is revolutionising biology and medicine. |
| selfish gene: Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection Peter Godfrey-Smith, 2009-03-26 In 1859 Darwin described a deceptively simple mechanism that he called natural selection, a combination of variation, inheritance, and reproductive success. He argued that this mechanism was the key to explaining the most puzzling features of the natural world, and science and philosophy were changed forever as a result. The exact nature of the Darwinian process has been controversial ever since, however. Godfrey-Smith draws on new developments in biology, philosophy of science, and other fields to give a new analysis and extension of Darwin's idea. The central concept used is that of a Darwinian population, a collection of things with the capacity to undergo change by natural selection. From this starting point, new analyses of the role of genes in evolution, the application of Darwinian ideas to cultural change, and evolutionary transitions that produce complex organisms and societies are developed. Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection will be essential reading for anyone interested in evolutionary theory |
| selfish gene: An Appetite For Wonder: The Making of a Scientist Richard Dawkins, 2013-09-12 Born to parents who were enthusiastic naturalists, and linked through his wider family to a clutch of accomplished scientists, Richard Dawkins was bound to have biology in his genes. But what were the influences that shaped his life? And who inspired him to become the pioneering scientist and public thinker now famous (and infamous to some) around the world? In An Appetite for Wonder we join him on a personal journey from an enchanting childhood in colonial Africa, through the eccentricities of boarding school in England, to his studies at the University of Oxford’s dynamic Zoology Department, which sparked his radical new vision of Darwinism, The Selfish Gene. Through Dawkins’s honest self-reflection, touching reminiscences and witty anecdotes, we are finally able to understand the private influences that shaped the public man who, more than anyone else in his generation, explained our own origins. |
| selfish gene: Gene Drives on the Horizon National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Life Sciences, Committee on Gene Drive Research in Non-Human Organisms: Recommendations for Responsible Conduct, 2016-08-28 Research on gene drive systems is rapidly advancing. Many proposed applications of gene drive research aim to solve environmental and public health challenges, including the reduction of poverty and the burden of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue, which disproportionately impact low and middle income countries. However, due to their intrinsic qualities of rapid spread and irreversibility, gene drive systems raise many questions with respect to their safety relative to public and environmental health. Because gene drive systems are designed to alter the environments we share in ways that will be hard to anticipate and impossible to completely roll back, questions about the ethics surrounding use of this research are complex and will require very careful exploration. Gene Drives on the Horizon outlines the state of knowledge relative to the science, ethics, public engagement, and risk assessment as they pertain to research directions of gene drive systems and governance of the research process. This report offers principles for responsible practices of gene drive research and related applications for use by investigators, their institutions, the research funders, and regulators. |
| selfish gene: Organisms, Agency, and Evolution D. M. Walsh, 2015-11-13 This book argues that evolution arises from the activities of organisms as agents, not from the replication of genes. |
| selfish gene: Damned Whores and God's Police Anne Summers, 2016-03 Stereotypes persist to this day, argues Anne Summers in this updated version of her classic book which, in the 40 years since it was first published, has sold well over 100,000 copies and been set on countless school and university syllabuses. Who are today's damned whores? And why do women themselves still want to be God's Police? |
| selfish gene: The Darwin Wars Andrew Brown, 2000 THE DARWIN WARS is an entertaining, explanatory account of the evolution of today's neo-Darwinist theories, including the influential Selfish Gene theory - and the misunderstandings and even deep hatreds they provoke. The two scientific camps are currently divided between 'Dawkinsians' on the one hand, who may not agree with Richard Dawkins about very much but are convinced Stephen Jay Gould is dangerously wrong, and the 'Gouldians' on the other hand who take the opposite view. The two sides agree that Darwinian evolution explains the appearance and complexity of living beings. They disagree about almost everything else . . . Their vitriolic attacks might seem like academic storms in a teacup but in fact they are disputing our very nature and place in the world. For the first time, an impartial observer explains and evaluates the ideas that have transformed biology since the 1960s, their importance and the criticisms that have been made of them. Above all, THE DARWIN WARS shows the profound impact these theories have had on our beliefs and our culture. |
| selfish gene: The Moral Animal Robert Wright, 2010-11-03 One of the most provocative science books ever published—a feast of great thinking and writing about the most profound issues there are (The New York Times Book Review). Fiercely intelligent, beautifully written and engrossingly original. —The New York Times Book Review Are men literally born to cheat? Does monogamy actually serve women's interests? These are among the questions that have made The Moral Animaled one of the most provocative science books in recent years. Wright unveils the genetic strategies behind everything from our sexual preferences to our office politics—as well as their implications for our moral codes and public policies. Illustrations. |
| selfish gene: Ants Richard Jones, 2022-02-03 'Brilliant, Fantastic and Significant' - Dr George McGavin Ants are seemingly everywhere, and this familiarity has led to some contemptuous and less than helpful stereotypes. In this compelling insight into the natural and cultural history of ants, Richard Jones helps to unravel some of the myths and misunderstanding surrounding their remarkable behaviours. Ant aggregations in large (often mind-bogglingly huge) nests are a complex mix of genetics, chemistry, geography and higher social interaction. Their forage trails – usually to aphid colonies but occasionally into the larder – are maintained by a wondrous alchemy of molecular scents and markers. Their social colony structure confused natural philosophers of old and still taxes the modern biologist today. Beginning the book with a straightforward look at ant morphology, Jones then explores the ant species found in the British Isles and parts of nearby mainland Europe, their foraging, nesting, navigating and battle instincts, how ants interact with the landscape, their evolution, and their place in our understanding of how life on earth works. Alongside this, he explores the complex relationship between humans and ants, and how ants went from being the subject of fables and moral storytelling to become popular research tools. Drawing on up-to-date science and featuring striking colour photographs throughout, this book presents a convincing case for why ants are worth our greater recognition and respect. |
| selfish gene: In the Light of Evolution National Academy of Sciences, 2007 The Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia of the National Academy of Sciences address scientific topics of broad and current interest, cutting across the boundaries of traditional disciplines. Each year, four or five such colloquia are scheduled, typically two days in length and international in scope. Colloquia are organized by a member of the Academy, often with the assistance of an organizing committee, and feature presentations by leading scientists in the field and discussions with a hundred or more researchers with an interest in the topic. Colloquia presentations are recorded and posted on the National Academy of Sciences Sackler colloquia website and published on CD-ROM. These Colloquia are made possible by a generous gift from Mrs. Jill Sackler, in memory of her husband, Arthur M. Sackler. |
| selfish gene: Frozen Evolution Jaroslav Flegr, 2008 |
| selfish gene: SCUM Manifesto Valerie Solanas, 2016-04-05 Life in this society being, at best, an utter bore and no aspect of society being at all relevant to women, there remains to civic-minded, responsible, thrill-seeking females only to overthrow the government, eliminate the money system, institute complete automation and destroy the male sex. Outrageous and violent, SCUM Manifesto was widely lambasted when it first appeared in 1968. Valerie Solanas, the woman who shot Andy Warhol, self-published the book just before she became a notorious household name and was confined to a mental institution. But for all its vitriol, it is impossible to dismiss as the mere rantings of a lesbian lunatic. In fact, the work has proved prescient, not only as a radical feminist analysis light years ahead of its time-predicting artificial insemination, ATMs, a feminist uprising against underrepresentation in the arts-but also as a stunning testament to the rage of an abused and destitute woman. In this edition, philosopher Avital Ronell's introduction reconsiders the evocative exuberance of this infamous text. |
| selfish gene: Why Evolution is True Jerry A. Coyne, 2010-01-14 For all the discussion in the media about creationism and 'Intelligent Design', virtually nothing has been said about the evidence in question - the evidence for evolution by natural selection. Yet, as this succinct and important book shows, that evidence is vast, varied, and magnificent, and drawn from many disparate fields of science. The very latest research is uncovering a stream of evidence revealing evolution in action - from the actual observation of a species splitting into two, to new fossil discoveries, to the deciphering of the evidence stored in our genome. Why Evolution is True weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, palaeontology, geology, molecular biology, anatomy, and development to demonstrate the 'indelible stamp' of the processes first proposed by Darwin. It is a crisp, lucid, and accessible statement that will leave no one with an open mind in any doubt about the truth of evolution. |
| selfish gene: The Cooperative Gene Mark Ridley, 2001 Why isn's all life pond-scum? Why are there multimillion-celled, long-lived monsters like us, built from tens of thousands of cooperating genes? Mark Ridley presents a new explanation of how complex large life forms like ourselves came to exist, showing that the answer to the greatest mystery of evolution for modern science is not the selfish gene; it is the cooperative gene. In this thought-provoking book, Ridley breaks down how two major biological hurdles had to be overcome in order to allow living complexity to evolve: the proliferation of genes and gene-selfishness. Because complex life has more genes than simple life, the increase in gene numbers poses a particular problem for complex beings.--BOOK JACKET. |
| selfish gene: The Blind Watchmaker Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public Understanding of Science Richard Dawkins, Richard Dawkins, 1996-09-17 Patiently and lucidly, this Los Angeles Times Book Award and Royal Society of Literature Heinemann Prize winner identifies the aspects of the theory of evolution that people find hard to believe and removes the barriers to credibility one by one. As readable and vigorous a defense of Darwinism as has been published since 1859.--The Economist. |
| selfish gene: The Guidebook to Successful Safety Programming Raymond J. Colvin, 2018-05-04 Guidebook to Successful Safety Programming is the first how to guide to present the elements and activities necessary for successful safety, health, and environmental programs in any company or organization. The book provides case histories that demonstrate how successful programs were developed and conducted for a variety of companies and describes how all levels of management and employees become involved in preventive programs. It covers management policies, safety rules, hazard analysis techniques, training methods, and accident investigations.Guidebook to Successful Safety Programming also explains how OSHA, EPA, and legal concerns are changing the role and involvement of management in safety, health, and environmental programs. The responsibilities of management in today's business culture are explored, which makes the book essential for managers, supervisors, and employees. Safety professionals studying for certification exams can use the book as a study guide to help them prepare for their tests. |
| selfish gene: Summary of The Selfish Gene Readtrepreneur Publishing, 2019-05-24 The Selfish Gene: by Richard Dawkins - Book Summary - Readtrepreneur (Disclaimer: This is NOT the original book, but an unofficial summary.) An entirely different approach to one of the most controversial theories in the world. The Selfish Gene is a reformulation of the theory of natural selection developed by Charles Darwin. This classic is focused on the nature of altruism and selfishness that creatures have. Despite that any living creature is focused on his well-being, the study reveals that they have a natural sense of altruism as well. Many creatures have a tendency of sacrificing themselves for their loved ones' safety. (Note: This summary is wholly written and published by Readtrepreneur. It is not affiliated with the original author in any way) Any altruistic system is inherently unstable, because it is open to abuse by selfish individuals, ready to exploit it. - Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins' title is an interesting look into the nature of living creatures. An incredibly complex topic developed perfectly so any person interested in reading it can enjoy and learn a lot from the book. Richard Dawkins reveals many things we didn't know about Charles Darwin's natural selection theory. P.S. The Selfish Gene is an extremely informative book which will teach you a lot about the most primal side of any living creature. The Time for Thinking is Over! Time for Action! Scroll Up Now and Click on the Buy now with 1-Click Button to Grab your Copy Right Away! Why Choose Us, Readtrepreneur? ● Highest Quality Summaries ● Delivers Amazing Knowledge ● Awesome Refresher ● Clear And Concise Disclaimer Once Again: This book is meant for a great companionship of the original book or to simply get the gist of the original book. |
| selfish gene: Dance to the Tune of Life Denis Noble, 2017 This book formulates a relativistic theory of biology, challenging the common gene-centred view of organisms. |
| selfish gene: The Biopsychology Colouring Book Alison Cooper, Jonathan Lee, Suzanne Higgs, 2024-12-14 |
| selfish gene: Reinventing Darwin Niles Eldredge, 1995-04-17 An insider's provocative account of one of the most contentious debates in science today When Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould, two of the world's leading evolutionary theorists, proposed a bold new theory of evolution—the theory of punctuated equilibria—they stood the standard interpretation of Darwin on its head. They also ignited a furious debate about the true nature of evolution. On the one side are the geneticists. They contend that evolution proceeds slowly but surely, driven by competition among organisms to transmit their genes from generation to generation. On the other are the paleontologists, like Eldredge and Gould, who show in the fossil record that in fact evolution proceeds only sporadically. Long periods of no change—equilibria—are punctuated by episodes of rapid evolutionary activity. According to the paleontologists, this pattern shows that evolution is driven far more by environmental forces than by genetic competition. How can the prevailing views on evolution be so different? In Reinventing Darwin, Niles Eldredge offers a spirited account of the dispute and an impressive case for the paleontologists' side of the story. With the mastery that only a leading contributor to the debate can provide, he charts the course of theory from Darwin's day to the present and explores the fundamental mysteries and crucial questions that underlie the current quarrels. Is evolution fired by a gentle and persistent motor and fueled by the survival instincts of selfish genes? Or does it proceed in fits and starts, as the fossil record seems to show? What is the role of environmental changes such as habitat destruction and of cataclysmic events like meteor impacts? Are most species inherently stable, changing only very little until they succumb to extinction? Or are species highly adaptable, changing all the time? Eldredge sorts through the major findings and interpretations and presents a lively introduction to the leading edge of evolutionary theory today. Reinventing Darwin offers a rare insider's view of the sometimes contentious, but always stimulating work of scientific inquiry. PRAISE FOR NILES ELDREDGE'S PREVIOUS BOOKS The Miner's Canary: Unraveling the Mysteries of Extinction The Miner's Canary rings with integrity. The author takes care to present opposing views. Some readers, indeed, might view Mr. Eldredge as a little too self-effacing; he is, after all, one of the world's leading experts in his field.—The New York Times Book Review Fossils: The Evolution and Extinction of Species . . . an important and informative book. It is also delightfully idiosyncratic. This is no scholarly treatise defending academic argument. It is an essay for everyone interested in the story of earthly life.—The Christian Science Monitor Life Pulse: Episodes from the Story of the Fossil Record This is Earth history on a grand scale; those who enjoy the works of Stephen Jay Gould will appreciate Life Pulse.—Publishers Weekly |
| selfish gene: Outgrowing God Richard Dawkins, 2019-09-19 Should we believe in God? In this new book, written for a new generation, the brilliant science writer and author of The God Delusion, explains why we shouldn't. Should we believe in God? Do we need God in order to explain the existence of the universe? Do we need God in order to be good? In twelve chapters that address some of the most profound questions human beings confront, Dawkins marshals science, philosophy and comparative religion to interrogate the hypocrisies of all the religious systems and explain to readers of all ages how life emerged without a Creator, how evolution works and how our world came into being. For anyone hoping to grapple with the meaning of life and what to believe, Outgrowing God is a challenging, thrilling and revelatory read. -------------------------------- |
THE SELFISH GENE - Yale Law Tech
The Selfish Gene (1976; second edition 1989) catapulted Richard Dawkins to fame, and remains his most famous and widely read work. It was followed by a string of bestselling books: The …
Evolution of the selfish gene - Nature
Selfish Gene, Dawkins introduced what may be his most popular idea, that of ‘memes’, or cultural replicators. Any population of entities that produce copies of themselves, and that
The Selfish Gene - Practical Neurology
The Selfish Gene. This month we delved into a classic, first published more than 40 years ago in 19761. The phrase The Selfish Gene has itself become a meme, a term coined by Richard …
A formal theory of the selfish gene - University of St Andrews
The proper basis of evolutionary biology is population genetics, so any formal theory of selfish genes must make reference to the genetics of populations. Here, we develop the dynamical …
Selfish Gene, The - ResearchGate
A seminal text in evolutionary biology that artic-ulates the gene-centered view of evolution by natural selection, explains how self-interested genes can give rise to altruism, and introduces …
The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed …
The Selfish Gene was the place where a new generation of biologists first learned about it. Thirty years ago, Dawkins advocat-ed a set of ideas that were mature enough to coalesce into a …
Selfish DNA: the ultimate parasite - Nature
A piece of selfish DNA, in its purest form, has two distinct properties: It arises when a DNA sequence spreads by forming additional copies of itself within the genome. It makes no specific...
Nature Vol. 284 17 April 1980 REVIEW ARTICLES
Selfish genes, the phenotype paradigm and genome evolution. W. Ford Doolittle & Carmen Sapienza. Department of Biochemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada …
Selfish genetic elements and the gene’s-eye view of evolution
Introduced in George Williams’ (1966) Adaptation and Natural Selection and more forcefully in Richard Dawkins’ (1976) The Selfish Gene, the gene’s-eye view, or selfish gene theory, can …
THE SELFISH GENE - api.pageplace.de
The Selfish Gene (1976; second edition 1989) catapulted Richard Dawkins to fame, and remains his most famous and widely read work.
Forty years of The Selfish Gene are not enough
There is no book quite like Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene. Forty years after its first publication, the book is still in Amazon’s top 10 for both the Genetics and Evolu-tion …
The Selfish Gene - SciSpace by Typeset
The Selfish Gene (1976 ; second edition 1989) catapulted Richar d Dawkin s to fame, and remains his most famous and widely read work. It was followed by a string of bestselling …
THE SELFISH GENE - LMU
THE SELFISH GENE Richard Dawkins is Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. Born in Nairobi of British parents, he was educated at Oxford …
The Selfish Gene. By Richard Dawkins. New Revised Edition.
The reviews discuss the measurement of fitness (Crow, Sved), mutation and its significance for quantitative genetic variation (Hill, Mackay), selection experiments (Falconer, Lopez-Fanjul), …
Selfish Genes: Fit at Thirty, A Review of Richard Dawkins: How …
Selfish Genes: Fit at Thirty A Review of Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed the Way We Think, Edited by Alan Grafen and Mark Ridley. Oxford University Press, 2006. 304 pp. Like …
RICHARD DAWKINS-The Selfish Gene. - Internet Archive
The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins's brilliant first book and still his most famous, is an international bestseller in thirteen languages. For this new edition there are two major new …
The Gregarious Metaphor of the Selfish Gene - JSTOR
SELFISH GENE Science establishes facts; the arts create imaginary possibilities; theology speculates. Although this characterization might receive wide endorsement, highly creative …
Archive.org
THE SELFISH GENE Richard Dawkins was Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University from 1995 to 2008. Born in Nairobi of British …
Selfish Genes and Social Darwinism - JSTOR
Selfish Genes and Social Darwinism. MARY MIDGLEY. Exchanging views in Philosophy with a two-year time-lag like conversation with the Andromeda Nebula.
THE SELFISH GENE - Archive.org
the selfish gene Richard Dawkins was Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University from 1995 to 2008. Born in Nairobi of British parents, he was educated at Oxford and did his doctorate under the Nobel Prize-winning ethologist Niko Tinbergen. From 1967 to 1969 he was an Assistant
THE SELFISH GENE - Yale Law Tech
The Selfish Gene (1976; second edition 1989) catapulted Richard Dawkins to fame, and remains his most famous and widely read work. It was followed by a string of bestselling books: The Extended Phenolype (1982), The Blind Watchmaker (1986), River Out of Eden (1995), Climbing Mount Improbable (1996), Unweaving the Rainbow (1998), and The ...
Evolution of the selfish gene - Nature
Selfish Gene, Dawkins introduced what may be his most popular idea, that of ‘memes’, or cultural replicators. Any population of entities that produce copies of themselves, and that
The Selfish Gene - Practical Neurology
The Selfish Gene. This month we delved into a classic, first published more than 40 years ago in 19761. The phrase The Selfish Gene has itself become a meme, a term coined by Richard Dawkins in this, his first book. The application (and misapplication) of the phrase is prevalent today beyond anything Dawkins could have imagined.
A formal theory of the selfish gene - University of St Andrews
The proper basis of evolutionary biology is population genetics, so any formal theory of selfish genes must make reference to the genetics of populations. Here, we develop the dynamical aspects of the theory using standard population genetic principles and assumptions.
Selfish Gene, The - ResearchGate
A seminal text in evolutionary biology that artic-ulates the gene-centered view of evolution by natural selection, explains how self-interested genes can give rise to altruism, and introduces the...
The Selfish Gene Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed …
The Selfish Gene was the place where a new generation of biologists first learned about it. Thirty years ago, Dawkins advocat-ed a set of ideas that were mature enough to coalesce into a coherent view of evolution but still new enough to be confined to a select group of mainly English and American biologists.
Selfish DNA: the ultimate parasite - Nature
A piece of selfish DNA, in its purest form, has two distinct properties: It arises when a DNA sequence spreads by forming additional copies of itself within the genome. It makes no specific...
Nature Vol. 284 17 April 1980 REVIEW ARTICLES
Selfish genes, the phenotype paradigm and genome evolution. W. Ford Doolittle & Carmen Sapienza. Department of Biochemistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4H7.
Selfish genetic elements and the gene’s-eye view of evolution
Introduced in George Williams’ (1966) Adaptation and Natural Selection and more forcefully in Richard Dawkins’ (1976) The Selfish Gene, the gene’s-eye view, or selfish gene theory, can be defined as the idea that the gene is the ul-timate beneficiary of selection.
THE SELFISH GENE - api.pageplace.de
The Selfish Gene (1976; second edition 1989) catapulted Richard Dawkins to fame, and remains his most famous and widely read work.
Forty years of The Selfish Gene are not enough
There is no book quite like Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene. Forty years after its first publication, the book is still in Amazon’s top 10 for both the Genetics and Evolu-tion categories, with over a million copies sold and more than 25 translated versions.
The Selfish Gene - SciSpace by Typeset
The Selfish Gene (1976 ; second edition 1989) catapulted Richar d Dawkin s to fame, and remains his most famous and widely read work. It was followed by a string of bestselling books: The Extended Phenotype (1982) , The Blind Watchmaker (1986) , River Out of Eden (1995), Climbing Mount Improbable (1996),
THE SELFISH GENE - LMU
THE SELFISH GENE Richard Dawkins is Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. Born in Nairobi of British parents, he was educated at Oxford and did his doctorate under the Nobel-prizewinning ethologist Niko Tin-bergen. From 1967 to 1969 he was an Assistant Professor at the
The Selfish Gene. By Richard Dawkins. New Revised Edition.
The reviews discuss the measurement of fitness (Crow, Sved), mutation and its significance for quantitative genetic variation (Hill, Mackay), selection experiments (Falconer, Lopez-Fanjul), selection for growth (McCarthy & Roberts) and the identification of individual genes for metric traits (Mayo, Piper & Shrimpton).
Selfish Genes: Fit at Thirty, A Review of Richard Dawkins: How …
Selfish Genes: Fit at Thirty A Review of Richard Dawkins: How a Scientist Changed the Way We Think, Edited by Alan Grafen and Mark Ridley. Oxford University Press, 2006. 304 pp. Like most Festschriften, this celebration of 30 years of The Selfish Gene collects new essays and tributes that range from nugatory to substantial.
RICHARD DAWKINS-The Selfish Gene. - Internet Archive
The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins's brilliant first book and still his most famous, is an international bestseller in thirteen languages. For this new edition there are two major new chapters.
The Gregarious Metaphor of the Selfish Gene - JSTOR
SELFISH GENE Science establishes facts; the arts create imaginary possibilities; theology speculates. Although this characterization might receive wide endorsement, highly creative and literary developments in contemporary science suggest otherwise. The intriguing gene's-eye view of life promoted by sociobiology,
Archive.org
THE SELFISH GENE Richard Dawkins was Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University from 1995 to 2008. Born in Nairobi of British parents,
Selfish Genes and Social Darwinism - JSTOR
Selfish Genes and Social Darwinism. MARY MIDGLEY. Exchanging views in Philosophy with a two-year time-lag like conversation with the Andromeda Nebula.
