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)

PARAPHRASING, QUOTING, AND SUMMARIZING

Paraphrasing
Basically, Roger has concluded that most of institutions of education are under a terrible situation, since they have given more importance to social issues rather than giving importance to the real and original purpose, to firstly educate individuals.

Quoting
Roger realized that schools have not yet accomplish the real puspose, to educate, since ¨At present, they are only tangentially so. They have attempted to serve an all-encompassing social function, trying to be all things to all people. In the process they have failed miserably at what they were originally formed to accomplish.¨

Summary

American education seems to be in trouble, principally because of one important reason. The reason is because students have no desire in attending classes but they are force to since mandatory laws are given to them. For this to not happen, schools should abolish these laws and permit students who are completely interested to attend it, and the ones who are´nt shouldn´t be force to. Obviously, private schools have no problem with these laws, since they can dismiss uninterested students because they will easily go directly to the public ones.

"SURVIVAL MACHINES"

I really liked how Dawkins identified humans, animals, plants, bacteria, and viruses, as “survival machines” I had never realized that genes or “replicators” could be the first factors so revolution could exist. Basically the gene is the only thing possible to copy information, since it carries DNA. Once DNA forms a specie, each individual, not just humans, have now a function; live and survive.

For example in humanity, each person starts living life from a unique perspective and behavior. Each individual becomes a machine, where each one starts functioning in a different way; each one using her/his capacities or tools. As humans are mortals, machines also get to a point in which they stop working. The world can be interpreted as a fabric, where big, small or tiny machines work for it and have different purposes, such as humans, whose lives differ from each other so competition, satisfaction, and development can be achieved.

FIRST CHAPTER

In the first chapter I considerably perceive Dawkins ability to explain complex biology theories or terms in brief and easy explanations. Personally, I’m not a person who really appreciate reading about science, but maybe this book will be a chance to get more attracted to it. What I really liked was Dawkin´s use of various examples, such as the use of altruism in different species and how they all develop it. Why are people? Is the perfect question every human being must have asked once in a life, and this book might give us some reasons or perceptions about how life began.

As I read in one book called “El mundo de Sofia”, I agreed with one association the author made; We, as humans, live in the fur of a rabbit, where usually everyone would ask what would be in the top of the big white hair. Such as Darwin, Newton, or Dawkin, are the perfect example of the individuals who could touch the top of the hair and give a look around the rabbit´s body. We as readers are in the same position of the people under the top of the rabbit´s hair, so this book will be a first step to increase our curiosity about what´s on top of us; It´ll open our eyes to understand why we are here! Those who are curious and capable of looking around are the only ones able to explain us everything, so let this book build us more!

Lyrics 'Suicide is Painless'

Lyrics
'Suicide is Painless'

Through early morning fog I see
visions of the things to be
the pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see...
[REFRAIN]:
that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make
all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...
[REFRAIN]
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
so this is all I have to say.
[REFRAIN]
The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.
[REFRAIN]
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...
[REFRAIN]
A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'
[REFRAIN]
'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.

With this song I can completley relate these words with Hamlet´s feelings throughout Act III, since he is really mad about his father´s death. Hamlet´s insanity makes him hesitate about "be or not to be" in his life reality, making the readers to suspect about a possible suicide from this protagonist.
Even in this song, the words "be or not to be" are written as well as reflected in Hamlet´s soliloqouy.