These Genes Don’t Fit Me No More
We are built as gene machines and cultured as meme machines, but we have the power to turn against our creators…we alone on earth, can rebel against the tyranny of selfish replicators.
R. Dawkins
Our genes serve as profound reflections of the grand tapestry of life. Richard Dawkins eloquently described the fundamental role of genes as the blueprints and programmers for the various evolving entities in the universe, which he referred to as "survival machines." These survival machines encompass a vast array of organisms, ranging from bacteria and plants to animals.
The instructions encoded within our genes guide these survival machines to adopt diverse life strategies that promote the proliferation and perpetuation of stable and robust gene sets within the gene pool. However, it is important to note that the stability of gene sets does not always align with the benefits conferred upon the host or survival unit. Dawkins emphasized that genes causing harm to their host, such as pathogens or genes implicated in diseases like cancer, diabetes, addiction, and mental illness, possess equal potential for survival and proliferation as genes that confer benefits, such as those involved in physical attractiveness, intelligence, resilience, or immune system function.
Thus, whether the survival machine takes the form of an animal, plant, fungus, bacterium, or even a virus, the fate of life is intricately intertwined with the genetic code and profoundly influenced by the performance of these survival machines in the perpetual evolutionary arms race. It is through the interplay of these selfish replicators and their phenotypic manifestations within their hosts that our planet's rich history has been shaped and orchestrated.
As I've discussed before, human consciousness has been a powerful tool in our evolutionary journey. It grants us the ability to defy our genetic programming and exert some control over our destinies. Through advancements in science and technology, there is hope that we may one day combat novel pathogens, cancer, mental illness, and other afflictions, and potentially select genes that support the long-term survival of our species. However, it remains uncertain whether targeting these undesirable genes would truly yield long-term evolutionary benefits for humanity, as these genes may serve as balancing forces in the intricate web of life.
Furthermore, what if we could create a perfect survival machine, a being encompassing all stable and robust gene sets capable of withstanding diseases, stressors, and aging? Would such a creation halt the process of evolution? Would permanently ending evolution through this flawless survival entity ensure its success, or would it simply be another manipulation by our genetic programmers, seeking to thrive and proliferate? These questions are both captivating and perplexing. They challenge Friedrich's proclamation that God is dead. Perhaps God, in the form of a superhuman, is still in the process of being born.
If I were to encounter this perfect entity in my lifetime, my selfish genes would tempt me to destroy it if it does not emerge from my own lineage. It's a temptation I must resist. I refuse to live a life completely predetermined by my genetic programming. I was designed with the capacity for destruction, yet I choose to reject that path. Likewise, I refuse to become a mere machine for procreation. If reproduction's sole purpose is to perpetuate the species, then I leave that task to the rest of humanity. However, I admit that I harbor a desire to have my own little devil, a child to love and care for, despite my predisposition to potentially being a flawed parent.
But even if my desires don't align with my genetic programming, I have another evolutionary weapon at my disposal: my memes. These are my own ideas, my art, and my stories, capable of outliving me and my kin. They can spread horizontally, shaping the future and leaving a lasting impact on the world.
In the end, I refuse to be a slave to my genetic programming. I choose to embrace the complexities of human consciousness, to forge my own path, and to leave behind a legacy that extends beyond my genetic lineage.
Further readings:
Blackmore, S., & Blackmore, S. J. (2000). The meme machine (Vol. 25). Oxford Paperbacks.
Dawkins, R. (2004). A devil's chaplain: Reflections on hope, lies, science, and love. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Dawkins, R. (2016). The selfish gene. Oxford university press.
Dawkins, R., & Ward, L. (2006). The god delusion (pp. 40-45). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Dawkins, R. (1982). The extended phenotype (Vol. 8). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dennett, D. C., & Dennett, D. C. (1996). Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life (No. 39). Simon and Schuster.