The fundamental unit of heredity and natural selection. In "The Selfish Gene," Dawkins argues that genes, not individuals or species, are the primary units of natural selection. Genes that enhance their own survival chances will be selected for, even if they do not benefit the organism as a whole.

遗传和自然选择的基本单位。在《自私的基因》中，道金斯认为基因而非个体或物种是自然选择的主要单位。增强自身生存机会的基因将被选择，即使它们对生物体整体没有益处。

An entity capable of making copies of itself. Dawkins introduces this concept to explain how life began with simple molecules that could replicate themselves. Genes are the most significant replicators in biological evolution.

能够复制自身的实体。道金斯引入此概念来解释生命如何从能够自我复制的简单分子开始。基因是生物进化中最重要的复制子。

The organism that carries and protects the genes. According to Dawkins, organisms are merely "survival machines" or vehicles built by genes to ensure their continued replication and spread.

携带和保护基因的生物体。根据道金斯的观点，生物体仅仅是"生存机器"或载体，由基因构建以确保其持续复制和传播。

Behavior that benefits others at a cost to oneself. In evolutionary biology, this refers to an organism reducing its own fitness to increase the fitness of another organism. Dawkins explains that altruistic behavior can evolve if it helps copies of an individual's genes in other organisms (usually relatives).

以牺牲自己为代价使他人受益的行为。在进化生物学中，这指的是生物体降低自身适合度以增加另一生物体的适合度。道金斯解释说，如果利他行为有助于个体基因在其他生物体（通常是亲属）中的复制，那么利他行为可以进化。

A form of altruism where organisms help others with the expectation of receiving help in return. This explains how cooperation can evolve between unrelated individuals. The concept was further developed by Robert Trivers but is discussed by Dawkins as a mechanism for cooperation.

一种利他主义形式，生物体帮助他人的同时期望得到回报。这解释了无关个体之间如何进化出合作。这个概念由罗伯特·特里弗斯进一步发展，但道金斯将其作为合作机制进行了讨论。

An extension of the fitness concept that includes an organism's ability to promote the reproduction of related individuals who share their genes. This explains why animals might sacrifice themselves for close relatives — they are helping copies of their own genes to survive in those relatives.

适合度概念的扩展，包括生物体促进共享其基因的相关个体繁殖的能力。这解释了为什么动物可能为了近亲而牺牲自己——他们是在帮助那些亲属中的自己基因的复制品生存。

A mathematical rule formulated by W.D. Hamilton stating that altruistic behavior will be favored by natural selection when rB > C, where r is the genetic relatedness of the recipient to the actor, B is the reproductive benefit gained by the recipient, and C is the reproductive cost to the actor.

由W.D.汉密尔顿提出的数学规则，表明当rB > C时，利他行为将被自然选择所青睐，其中r是接受者与行动者的基因关系，B是接受者获得的繁殖收益，C是行动者的繁殖成本。