The Selfish Gene

Dawkins regularly describes humans (along with other animals and plants) as machines. The machines are built not for their own sake, but merely to convey genes. This provides a framework for explaining human behaviors, including selfishness and altruism.

Individual humans (and other species) die too quickly for evolution to take place, as do their groupings. However, genes replicate accurately enough from one generation to another that stable structures form. Over evolutionary time, these structures form into machinery such as humans. The purpose of the human machines is to protect the replicators. The survival machines act as “vehicles” for replicators. DNA molecules do not directly sense or act in the environment. Rather, they have animals.

Dawkins refers to humans as finally being able to rebel against their genes, unlike previous organisms. Through protein synthesis, genes control the functions of plants and animals. Animals have increasingly complex brains, necessary to operate in the fast-paced world. At the level of humanity, the brain has become smart enough to overtake its master, the genes.

In environments containing finite resources, different components compete, as only the most effective can survive. Among molecules in the oceans of early Earth, competing replicators became increasingly capable of surviving. Today, plants and animals and other organisms continue to compete for the limited resources necessary to survive. This competition drives evolution.

Because genes compete for the same resources, they often encounter conflicts of interest. In such cases, the genes battle through deceptive communications and other methods. Even individuals in the same species or immediate family have conflicts of interests resulting in competition.

According to the Parental Investment model, offspring compete for the resources of their mother. She has to divide her food and time among equally valued offspring. Each child competes with the others for these scarce resources. Due to limited food resources, sex cells compete to reproduce efficiently. From single-sex isogametes, sperm and eggs evolved so that eggs carry enough food and sperms race to get there.

Due to competition for scarce resources, survival is difficult. Therefore, forms that survive are selected, and have their traits carried forth. This applies to molecules, where replicators that survive better get selected, as well as for organisms. Competition for limited resources can produce cooperation as a survival strategy.