PRISONER´S DILEMMA VS. GENES

It´s really enjoyable to compare the Prisoner’s dilemma with the Selfish Gene. As we could see in chapter 4 genes are the masters of the brain, since they indirectly program everything so the survival machines can then perform. There are some choices the gene can decide to take;

1.act indirectly in the creation of machines; Genes are aware that they are just capable of program brains and make certain big predictions, so they have to leave the rest to the individuals to act directly in the development of their lives. Some survival machines may survive but some don’t, this means that there is not certainty about passing those genes to next generations.
2. act directly in the creation of machines; If genes act directly, they will not accomplish natural selection for machines, since each individual will not be allowed to develop itself and survive in each environment. But if genes act directly, they will make sure to pass those unique genes to next generations...it’s up to them!
3. don´t act in the creation of machines; If genes wouldn’t exist, survival machines wouldn’t live and survive.

“THE ULTIMATE MASTERS; THE GENES”

Wow! The gene is surely a unique and essential basis to create humanity! I´ve never thought about who or what was the thing that created each human. While reading Chapter 4, I totally learned that the real master of the human existence was, the gene. We as humans behave in singular ways and reflect exclusive personalities, but guess what? Genes are really responsible about the behavior of all survival machines, since they work as our “ computers programmers”.

All genes do, is to set the survival machines up, and then they survive on their own. Each individual’s brain is build by unique genes. “The genes have to instruct their survival machines not in specifics, but in general strategies and tricks of the living trade”(P.53). I really liked the analogy of the polar bears, where genes are aware of some general predictions; the future of this bear will be set in a very cold climate, for this reason genes have to build a thick coat of hair. Another analogy I can think of, is the prediction made by genes towards the black race; people who are black usually live in hot climate, so genes already know that their skin must resist sun all day and it must be tan. “All we have to believe is that those individuals whose genes build brains, they tend to gamble correctly are as direct result more likely to survive, and therefore to propagate those same genes”(P.56). Genes build brains in a way that the created survival machine survives, so its genes can also survive and pass to next generations. Of course, genes can´t make specific predictions, since they only act in an indirect way (Of course in a very powerful sense) , but it´s extremely important to realize that each survival machine experiences more things through life, till the point that they can even have “the power to rebel against the dictates of genes, for instance in refusing to have as many children as they are able to”(P.60)

It´s really interesting to see how we really work depending on certain aspects; such as the genes being the masters of our creation! Every machine is build by certain genes, who predict and ensure certain aspects for it to survive. But well, we are also geniuses in a way that we are the ones who control limits or reactions. Through every day life, we, as humans, learn lots of things, which at some point they become exceptional to make us be aware of how to keep high our survival.

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DAWKINS´ PROTAGONIST: THE GENE

“A gene is defined as any portion of chromosomal material that potentially lasts for enough generation to serve as a unit of natural selection”(P.28).

Finally we get to the point where Dawkins is starting to explain his book’s protagonist; the gene. What we have understood about a gene, from Dawkins point of view, is that it is a unique genetic unit which has the enough capacities to last for a lot of generations, “distributing” itself in various copies. Natural selection has been Dawkins important issue to explain gene’s importance; “Natural selection in its most general form means the differential survival of entities”. Each specie or individual has a time limit, where it has to deal with stability and survival. The point is, a gene also has to be aware of stability, but not about short life time, since it just “leaps from body to body down to generations, manipulating body after body in its own way...”(P.34) You see! A gene lasts forever! A very important gene idiosyncrasy! Humans, animals, or “survival machines” are mortals, while genes are the immortals, because “ genes in the world have an expectation of life that must be measured in millions years!”(P.37) In this vast period of time, genes are the only ones who really pertain about natural selection, since “ it is defined as a piece of chromosome which is sufficient short for it to last, potential, for long enough for it to function as a significant unit of natural selection” (P.36)
I will see if a gene, living within other genes or environments, will still be sufficiently potential to survive and achieve stability! Once I find these answers I will then be able to comprehend why the gene is the basic unit of selfishness.

NEW ATTRACTIVE TERMS

While I was reading this chapter, I got a little bit confused with some key terms, since I didn´t know their connotation. At this point, I consider it´s really important to appreciate these scientific terms, to later comprehend the whole point of the author. Maybe these will not be so relevant at the middle of the book, but still I was really curious about knowing their sense. Some of them I understood their meaning in class, but any ways I blog them here if in future chapters they appear again.
At the same time, I realize all these key terms are extremely important to finally understand the author¨s purpose; The gene is the most important individual in natural selection. All the following terms are evolved within gene existence, so it is better to take a deep look at them!

Recessive: " a gene that is ignored"
Dominant: the opposite of the recessive one.
Mitosis: " a normal division of a cell into two new cells, each one receiving a complete copy of 46 chromosomes"
Meiosis: "This occurs only in the production of sex cells; the sperms or eggs". Meiosis is a cell division, taking place only in the testicles and ovaries, in which a cell with the full double set of 46 chromosomes divides to form sex cells with the single set of 23"
Cistron: It can be interprate as a gene or as the nucleotide chain.
Mimicry: copying of genes
Inversion: " it happens when a piece of chromosome detaches itself atboth ends, turns head over heels, and reattaches itsel in the inverted position"

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EVALUATION WHILE READING A SOURCE

It's really important to evaluate the content while you are reading it, so certain instructions need to be followed.
1. Take a look through the index and the contents, so you'll know if your topic is really complete or deep.
2. Search for more references related to your topic.
3. Make clear what your tone, information, and audience are going to be.
4. Be sure to know what type of content is yours: opinion or propaganda(be sure to have great persuasive statements).
5. Be clear while reflecting either emotional or objective language.
6. Be sure to build good sources of information: it is better if you mix and balance different type of sources in your content ( present dated resources or strong evidence)