Is The Selfish Gene Outdated?

The “selfish gene” perspective

has not gone unchallenged

. Among others, the well-known evolutionary biologist Richard Lewontin and philosopher Elliott Sober have raised specific objections to this focus on the gene. The debate remains unresolved because the gene-centered view is, demonstrably, partially valid.

How many copies did the selfish gene sell?

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 Evolution categories, with

over a million copies sold

and more than 25 translated versions.

Is the selfish gene accepted?

The view of The Selfish Gene is that

selection based upon groups and populations is rare compared to selection on individuals

. Although supported by Dawkins and by many others, this claim continues to be disputed.

Which Richard Dawkins books to read first?

• The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.
• The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins.
• The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene by Richard Dawkins.
• The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution by Richard Dawkins.
• Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder by Richard Dawkins.

Is The Selfish Gene worth reading?

The Selfish Gene is

a fantastic book

and gives a very unique perspective on how to think about evolution in terms of the gene. As well as this I do believe that there is great amounts of relevance in reading it to understand evolution, especially kin-selection and altruism which are commonly misunderstood.

What is the point of the selfish gene?

The fundamental argument that The Selfish Gene makes is that

the natural selection process in the evolution of living beings is not about making the species, community or group secure

. It is about making the individual secure, and the individual is merely a vehicle for its genes.

What is an example of a selfish gene?

Examples include

cytoplasmic male sterility

(see Selfish mitochondria). While mitochondrial and chloroplast genes are generally maternally inherited, B chromosomes can be preferentially transmitted through both males and females.

Are genes immortal?

The

genes are immortal in the sense that the gene as a unit endures

; however, not more detail inspection of their DNA sequences and of the sequences of the proteins they encode, and it is a key demonstration of on aspect of the process of natural selection.

What do biologists mean by selfish genes?

Dawkins coined the term selfish gene as

a way of expressing the gene-centred view of evolution

, which holds that evolution is best viewed as acting on genes and that selection at the level of organisms or populations almost never overrides selection based on genes. …

Why is the giant called selfish?

Answers: The Giant was called selfish

because he wanted to keep his garden reserved only for himself

. He banned the entry of outsiders there. In both the cases the children are referring to the Giant's garden.

Where should I start with Dawkins?

1. The Ancestor's Tale. Richard Dawkins.
2. The Blind Watchmaker. Richard Dawkins.
3. Climbing Mount Improbable. Richard Dawkins.
4. Devil's Chaplain. Richard Dawkins.
5. Das Egoistische GEN. Richard Dawkins.
6. The Evolution of Life. …
7. The Extended Phenotype. …
8. The God Delusion.

How does selfish gene theory explain altruism?

Altruism is defined as an act that does not benefit the individual that performs it. … The theory states that

closely related individuals are more likely to have the same genes

and thus assisting in the passing on of those same genes to future generations.

Are transposons selfish DNA?

Transposable

elements are often termed selfish DNA because they are parasitic DNA sequences that inhabit a host genome. Over time, many copies of selfish DNA are inactivated by mutations and deletions, leaving DNA remnants called junk DNA.

Why did Francis Crick referred to mobile DNA as selfish DNA?

Mobile DNA elements (or simply mobile elements) are

essentially molecular parasites

, which appear to have no specific function in the biology of their host organisms, but exist only to maintain themselves. For this reason, Francis Crick referred to these sequences as “selfish DNA.”

Who wrote The Selfish Gene?

The Selfish Gene by

Richard Dawkins

is another. From the moment of its publication 40 years ago, it has been a sparkling best-seller and a scientific game-changer.

What does not immortal mean?

adjective.

not mortal

; not liable or subject to death; undying: our immortal souls. remembered or celebrated through all time: the immortal words of Lincoln. not liable to perish or decay; imperishable; everlasting.