the selfish gene 30th anniversary edition

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. It is thoughtful and insightful whilst being a manageable read, the topics discussed are on the cutting edge of science, excellent. As influential today as when it was first published, The Selfish Gene has become a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. The Selfish Gene is a strikingly beautiful book on evolution from a geneticists point of view. In other words, the theory explains that the behavior of a parasite or insect can cause change in the behavior of other animals. Biologists have been left baffled as this concept means that chemical reactions (triggered by genes) in a body can affect the chemical reactions (leading to the desired behaviour) in other bodies. The last chapter of the selfish gene deals with the theory of the extended phenotype which again is an interesting topic. The author also writes about a new kind of replicator - Memes which copy ideas, music, fashion, philosophies in our world.

This simple concept is quite revolutionary.īreaking it all down Richard discusses the tasks of genes, in particular the role they play in parenthood, families, relationships between sexes, altruism, selfishness and many other tasks. Genes are the 'survival machines' because they use our bodies to duplicate, not the other way round. The gene is called the 'Selfish Gene' in the title because genes are the genetic unit that deal with their survival only, whilst promoting their own transmission at the cost of its enemies. The mechanism and nature of DNA are the small units that make up our genes that pass through generations of life.

In the first few chapters the Selfish Gene is well explained. This 30th anniversary edition includes a new introduction from the author as well as the original prefaces and foreword, and extracts from early reviews. Richard Dawkins gracefully talks about the role genetics play in evolution, genes and more in 'The Selfish Gene'.

The selfish gene 30th anniversary edition