The selfish gene is a book on evolution by richard dawkins, published in 1976. What is meant by richard dawkins term the selfish gene. Bees, for example, will commit suicide when they sting to protect the hive, and birds will risk their lives to warn the flock of an approaching hawk. Richard dawkins the selfish gene explained youtube. The selfish gene 30th anniversary edition edition 3 by. The extended selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9780198788782, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Richard dawkins signed this book at the cheltenham festival in 2019. The genecentered view of evolution, genes eye view, gene selection theory, or selfish gene theory holds that adaptive evolution occurs through the differential survival of competing genes, increasing the allele frequency of those alleles whose phenotypic trait effects successfully promote their own propagation, with gene defined as not just one single physical bit of dna. Inthe selfish gene, originally published in 1976, author and renowned british evolutionary biologist richard dawkins expands upon american biologist george c. To this extent, contrary to popular opinion, dawkins exposition is not merely a popularisation, but actually breaks new ground theoretically. There are 4 prefaces covering the different editions over the years and 70 odd pages of end notes, covering the latest thinking and giving dawkins a reply to his critics. Theres a good reason i imagine why the selfish gene was jeffrey skillings favourite book. An international bestseller, dawkinss superb reworking of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much interest outside the scientific community as within it. Hes always been controversial in one way or another, ever since the release of arguably his most popular book, the selfish gene amazon usuk.
There is no book quite like richard dawkins the selfish gene. From the genecentred view, it follows that the more two individuals are. According to the introduction to this book, the selfish gene changes the way that many scientists look at the process of natural selection. Feb 28, 2014 you can buy richards book the selfish gene on amazon dawkins explains how the genes that are around today in us and every other living organism come from an. The selfish gene book by richard dawkins thriftbooks. After establishing the basis for the selfish gene, richard dawkins moves on to analyze various relationships between individuals, or survival machines, in the selfish gene. Inheriting the mantle of revolutionary biologist from darwin, watson, and crick, richard dawkins forced an enormous change in the way we see ourselves and the world with the publication of the selfish gene. Richard dawkins brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having. In it professor dawkins articulates a genes 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 the replication of genes. In july 2017 a poll to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the royal society science book prize listed the selfish gene as the most influential science book of all time. In terms of the book and its contents, again, i heartily recommend the selfish gene. Ive now finished my 2nd and started my 3rd dawkins book but the selfish gene is the best. Even if youve slept all the way through biology class in high school, this book can catch you up on at.
Replicators compete directly for space within an individual, and only consequently for existence in the gene or meme pool. The selfish gene is a 1976 book on evolution by the biologist richard dawkins, in which the author builds upon the principal theory of george c. Rather, natural selection affects survival and reproduction of individualsand more specifically survival and reproduction of genes. Some of them do buy the new book and, for the rest, my wife consoles me by arguing that people who newly discover an author will naturally tend to go back to his first book. I have a problem with the loose definition of a gene. Selfishness then, is very useful in describing replicator behavior, but not necessarily an individuals behavior. Jan 04, 20 a few popular science books rise above the genre and become popstars of the book world bestsellers.
Whether an undergraduate, expert in the topic or simply curious about the natural world, this book will be a thrill from start to finish. The world of the selfish gene revolves around savage competition, ruthless exploitation, and deceit, and yet, dawkins argues, acts of apparent altruism do exist in nature. Selfish genes and genecentered evolution bitesize bio. Selfish gene by richard dawkins, first edition abebooks. Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of. Information and translations of selfish gene in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. In his text, dawkins describes the molecular gene as the fundamental unit of evolution. In the end, it was michael rodgers of oxford university press who enthusiastically published the selfish gene, after demanding i must have that book. Dawkinss pithy writing style and mastery of telling detail combined to make the book one of the popular and controversial books on evolution ever written. Discover book depositorys huge selection of richard dawkins books online. Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution as opposed to the views focused on the organism and. Jun 05, 2015 perhaps the main claim of the book is that the fundamental unit of evolution is the gene.
Richard dawkins wrote the selfish gene, his first book, to make clear that adaptations in species do not occur for the good of the species as a whole. Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the gene centred view of evolution as opposed to the views focused on the organism and the group, popularising ideas developed during the. Born in nairobi of british parents, he was educated at oxford and did his doctorate under the nobelprizewinning ethologist niko tin bergen. The author begins by suggesting that intelligent, thinking animals must ask questions about its origins, and that darwin has supplied excellent answers. Dawkins uses the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution. In it 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 the replication of genes. This edition includes two new chapters as well as extensive endnotes that do much to perfect the original text and correct the few mistakes that were found in it. 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. Other articles where the selfish gene is discussed. Hamiltons work dawkins used the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the genecentred view of evolution. Hamer described a study of over people, which he said showed that the gene vmat2 was correlated with increased levels of spirituality authority, while the claim. A greenbeard gene is a gene that has the ability to recognize copies of itself in other individuals and then make its carrier act preferentially toward such individuals.
Perhaps the main claim of the book is that the fundamental unit of evolution is the gene. You can buy richards book the selfish gene on amazon dawkins explains how the genes that are around today in us and every other living organism come from an. It led me to read about evolutionary biology, and i became fascinated by richard dawkinss book the selfish gene, and the idea of the immortal gene. Selfish genetic elements historically also referred to as selfish genes, ultra selfish genes, selfish dna, parasitic dna and genomic outlaws are genetic segments that can enhance their own transmission at the expense of other genes in the genome, even if this has no positive or a net negative effect on organismal fitness. In 1976, a littleknown biologist named richard dawkins published a book called the selfish gene, which presented a stark some said merciless version of evolutionary theory. Dawkins sees off darwin in vote for most influential. Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to, because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs, something that no other species has ever aspired to do. In 1976, the selfish gene became the first real blockbuster popular science book, a poetic mark in the sand to the public and scientists alike. This meme, methinks, forms the true bone of contention and the true obstacle to progress. If you want a suggestion for the free audiobook or for reading a book, heres fightmediocrity beginners reading list. I was an 18yearold creationist when i first read the selfish gene by richard dawkins. Dawkins seduced me into questioning a truth that seemed stranger than fiction. Due to their naturally selfish behavior, genes merely use organisms as mechanisms to ensure their own survival. The geneseyeview the selfish gene is indeed a seminal work in the history of biology primarily because dawkins takes the socalled geneseyeview of evolution to its logical conclusion.
Its one of the odd beauties of this whole mess that dawkins himself coined the term meme, and did so in the selfish gene. May 29, 2016 in 1976, the selfish gene became the first real blockbuster popular science book, a poetic mark in the sand to the public and scientists alike. In this revised edition of his bestselling book the selfish gene, richard dawkins demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world. First coined by evolutionary biologist richard dawkins in his 1976 book, the selfish gene, the term describes. Dawkins sees off darwin in vote for most influential science book. The selfish gene is a classic exposition of evolutionary thought. There is a ton of great information in the selfish gene. The selfish gene lays out a cool theory about what drives evolution. This is a new edition of possibly the most exciting and innovative book on evolution in years.
Dawkins argued that natural selection takes place at the genetic rather than the species or individual level, as was often assumed. The extended phenotype by richard dawkins, 9780198788911, available at book depository. Originally publishedin 1976, this book argues that genes are the basic unit of evolution, not individual organisms or even species. Adaptation and natural selection, and helped popularize w. Jun 10, 2015 if you want a suggestion for the free audiobook or for reading a book, heres fightmediocrity beginners reading list. Forty years after its first publication, the book is still in amazons top 10 for both the genetics and evolution categories, with over a million copies sold and more than 25 translated versions.
I doubt that anyone reading bitesize bio has never heard of richard dawkins. The selfish gene charles simonyi professor of the public. A freshman, prevet major at colorado state university, i found myself in bernard rollins honours biology course. Contains two new chapters and a wealth of new insights into the. The first sentence is, intelligent life on a planet comes of age when it first works out the reason for its existence 1. More than a quartercentury after its first publication, richard dawkinss the selfish gene remains a classic of popular science writing. The concept of the selfish gene has been around for more than three decades. These are all memes, a term first coined by richard dawkins in 1976 in his book the selfish gene. The name itself comes from thoughtexperiment first presented by bill hamilton and then it was developed and given its current name by richard dawkins in the selfish gene. First four chapters richard dawkins seminal book, the selfish gene, immediately sends your brain spinning.
This is the first booklength response to richard dawkins, author of some of the most popular scientific works, such as the selfish gene and. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. The selfish gene came from a time when i was trying to understand the many ways that humanity can be immortal. Jun 23, 2016 the selfish gene lays out a cool theory about what drives evolution. The selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9780199291151, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Id rather see the math for myself, because the way gene is defined in the book necessitates a probabilistic definition of what constitutes a gene. And they have not found a way to displace a meme so powerful as the selfish gene. Even if youve slept all the way through biology class in high school, this book can catch you up on at least 70% of whats important within a few hours. The selfish gene tsg by richard dawkins is one of these rare books.
Different body features, behaviors, and even altruistic actions arenothing but tools for them. Dawkins sees off darwin in vote for most influential science book a public poll to mark 30 years of the royal society book prizes sees the selfish gene declared the most significant with women. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Contains two new chapters and a wealth of remarkable new insights into the biological world. Richard dawkins is charles simonyi professor for the public understanding of science at oxford university. Richard dawkins in this revised edition of his classic, richard dawkins demonstrates how cooperation can evolve even in a basically selfish world. If you draw a picture of a bird, the lifespan of the picture is only as long as the lifespan of the paper it is drawn on. Its no wonder this book is still relevant after three decades.
The metaphor of the selfish gene is supposed to convey the message that the effects of natural selection upon random mutations are to increase the frequenc. The selfish gene simple english wikipedia, the free. Dawkins used the term selfish gene as a way of expressing the gene centred view of evolution. Debate over selfish gene theory heats up genetic literacy. The selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9781455856350, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jul 20, 2017 dawkins sees off darwin in vote for most influential science book a public poll to mark 30 years of the royal society book prizes sees the selfish gene declared the most significant with women. Anything which can successfully and reliably make copies of itself is something that will continue to exist. The selfish gene by richard dawkins, 9780198788607, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The selfish gene quotes showing of 154 let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish. Published in 1976, tsg is not only still in print, but according to the a long, chronologically uninterrupted trail of stamps. Dec 19, 2014 anything which can successfully and reliably make copies of itself is something that will continue to exist. You will find yourself reading this book from both ends. Jan 27, 2016 in the end, it was michael rodgers of oxford university press who enthusiastically published the selfish gene, after demanding i must have that book. In the selfish gene, richard dawkins crystallized the genes eye view of evolution.
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