The Selfish Gene

Synopsis

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.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Immortal Gene

* Summary: Introduces the concept of the gene as the fundamental unit of selection, rather than the individual organism.
* Real Example: The peppered moth, which evolves different coloration based on its environment, demonstrating that genes can adapt to selective pressures.

Chapter 2: The Replicators

* Summary: Explains that genes are "replicators" that reproduce themselves across generations.
* Real Example: Viruses, which are simply strands of genetic material that replicate inside host cells.

Chapter 3: The Protein Machine

* Summary: Describes how genes produce proteins, the "machines" that carry out the functions of life.
* Real Example: Enzymes, which speed up specific chemical reactions crucial for metabolism.

Chapter 4: The Gene's Eye View

* Summary: Presents the perspective of genes, whose primary "goal" is to replicate and survive.
* Real Example: The selfish behavior of bacteria that use antibiotics to kill other bacteria, even if it benefits their own colony.

Chapter 5: The Strategy of Genes

* Summary: Describes different strategies that genes employ to increase their replication success.
* Real Example: The "Red Queen effect" in sexual reproduction, where species constantly evolve new traits to outcompete each other.

Chapter 6: Genes and Survival

* Summary: Explores the relationship between genes and the survival of individual organisms.
* Real Example: The evolution of altruism, where individuals sacrifice their own survival to benefit their kin, carrying copies of their genes.

Chapter 7: Genes and the Brain

* Summary: Discusses the role of genes in shaping behavior, particularly in terms of mate selection and parental care.
* Real Example: The "Trivers-Willard Hypothesis," which explains why mothers provide more care to their sons than to their daughters.

Chapter 8: Kin Selection

* Summary: Explains the concept of kin selection, where individuals favor the survival of their close relatives, who share copies of their genes.
* Real Example: Social insects, such as ants and bees, where workers sacrifice their own reproduction to support the colony, ensuring the survival of their genetically related queen.

Chapter 9: The Genetic Basis of Society

* Summary: Discusses the role of genes in shaping human societies and cultural norms.
* Real Example: The taboo against incest, which prevents the spread of genetic defects within a family.

Chapter 10: Beyond the Selfish Gene

* Summary: Acknowledges that while genes are the primary drivers of evolution, they are not the only factors.
* Real Example: The influence of cultural transmission and environmental factors on human behavior and social organization.