Exploring Richard Dawkins' Revolutionary Book

An interactive journey through the gene-centered view of evolution

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DNA double helix illustration

About The Book

The Selfish Gene book cover

First published in 1976, Richard Dawkins' "The Selfish Gene" revolutionized our understanding of evolution. The book introduced the gene-centered view of evolution, arguing that genes, not individuals or species, are the primary units of natural selection.

Dawkins coined the term "selfish gene" to express the idea that genes act as if they were selfish entities, seeking to maximize their own chances of being passed on to future generations. This perspective helps explain many biological phenomena, from animal behavior to the evolution of altruism.

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1M+
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1976
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Key Themes

DNA icon

Gene-Centered View

The central thesis that genes, not individuals or groups, are the units of natural selection.

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Altruism icon

Altruism & Selfishness

How seemingly altruistic behaviors can evolve from selfish genetic interests.

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Kinship icon

Kinship & Inclusive Fitness

How genetics explains altruism toward relatives and family dynamics.

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Meme icon

Memes & Cultural Evolution

The extension of evolutionary principles to cultural information.

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Interactive Visualizations

Explore complex concepts through interactive simulations

Gene Replication Simulator

Gene Replication Simulator

Visualize how genes persist through generations while individual organisms die. This simulation demonstrates one of the key concepts in "The Selfish Gene": from a gene's perspective, organisms are merely temporary vehicles.

Interactive controls
Real-time visualization
Multiple generations
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Hawk-Dove Game Simulator

Hawk-Dove Game Simulator

Explore the emergence of evolutionary stable strategies through competition. The Hawk-Dove game illustrates how a balance of aggressive and peaceful strategies can evolve in a population.

Population simulation
Strategy evolution
Interactive parameters
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Inclusive Fitness Calculator

Inclusive Fitness Calculator

Calculate when altruistic behavior is favored by natural selection based on Hamilton's rule. This tool helps you understand why genes for altruistic behavior can spread when directed toward close relatives.

Interactive calculator
Visual representation
Relatedness exploration
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Notable Quotes

"We are survival machines – robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes."

Richard Dawkins

"Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish."

Richard Dawkins

"A gene might be able to assist replicas of itself that are sitting in other bodies. If so, this would appear as individual altruism but it would be brought about by gene selfishness."

Richard Dawkins

Ready to Start Exploring?

Dive into the fascinating world of evolutionary biology and discover how genes shape our existence.

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