Gene Machines

The Selfish Gene

Pg. 50-65

......As I read this chapter, I had no idea where Dawkins was heading, not to mention it was one of the hardest chapters I've read so far. It was a jumble of ideas. It was as if he was trying to tie loose ends in one chapter with very little explanations. I mean, he began by talking about muscles, then he compared genes and brains to a computers and programmers, then he talked about electronic chess games. But his jumble didn't stop there he began a brief talk about simulation and learning, and just when it couldn't become more confusing he jumped back to his thesis, selfish vs. altruistic species. I must admit I was confused through most of the chapter and had to read many passage more than once, but now that I look back at it, it's all connected.

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......The chapter is called "The Gene Machine," and as I read I soon found out the brain is a gene machine. The brain was created by genes, in order for them to survive and flourish in the world. However, the brain soon got powerful enough to avoid the gene's commands by learning and simulating what it wanted. The genes in a way conformed to the brain's newly acquired power as long as they could live in peace, and the brain provided them with a hearty survival. (But wouldn't this conformity also lead to their end? The brain obviously has the upper hand; it can do whatever it wants. What if the brain makes a bad choice and the body dies? What happens if a choice affects a gene and makes it unrepairable? What would the genes do then to ensure their survival? They wouldn't be able to do anything, I mean, they would be dead!) But, this example is present in every day action; it isn't as unique as one would think.

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......Everywhere we look, people conform to their government, to their society, to their culture, to their economic status, to their friends, to anything really, as long as their confomity provides some sort of stability and security. People are willing to accept just about anything as long as their choice doesn't endanger their existence in any way or form. However, their choices are never 100% insured; no one can tell what's going to happen for sure in future. However, as the famous saying goes, Like father, like son. As humans beings we are just like the genes that make us up.