selfish genes
Evolution's true units
Selfish genes is a framework from evolutionary biology proposing that genes, not organisms, are the primary units of natural selection.
The idea, popularized by Richard Dawkins, reframes organisms as vehicles genes build to replicate themselves.
The "selfishness" is metaphorical—genes that promote their own propagation persist, regardless of effects on the organism: From the selfish gene perspective, altruism toward kin makes sense because relatives share genes.
- chromosomeDNA strand carrying genes
- memesSelf-propagating cultural units
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- nature versus nurtureDebate over innate versus acquired traits
reductionism · evolution · determinism · vehicle · selections · mating strategies · survivals · mutation · biology · natural selection · human nature · evolutionary psychology · adaptation · alleles · fitness · teleology · molecular · speciation
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