10- Selfish Gene Theory Flashcards
1
Q
Who came up with the Selfish Gene theory?
A
Dawkins, 1976
2
Q
What does the theory believe selfish genes do?
A
Promote altruism or cooperation if strategies serve aim of replication
3
Q
Why do genes build bodies?
A
For own selfish aim of replication
4
Q
How do selfish genes often conflict with the host organism?
A
Genes that influence some insects’ mating behaviour can also influence death, eg. female praying mantis eats the male after mating
5
Q
How do selfish genes help survival?
A
Protecting the organism against disease
6
Q
How do selfish genes help reproduction?
A
Encouraging the organism to mate
7
Q
What are 3 criticisms of the gene-centric view of evolution?
A
- Gene differences don’t cause evolutionary changes in populations- they just register those changes
- Dawkin’s does not give direct visibility to natural selection
- Phenotypes that interact with the environment are the one’s at the natural selection interface
