Dawkins, Richard. The Selfish Gene. Oxford University Press, 2016. 

The Selfish Gene

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Evolution by natural selection was first demonstrated by the observation that more offspring are often produced than can possibly survive. This is followed by three observable facts about living organisms: 
- 1) Traits vary among individuals with respect to their morphology, physiology, and behavior (phenotypic variation)
- 2) Different traits confer different rates of survival and reproduction (differential fitness)
- 3) Traits can be passed from generation to generation (heritability of fitness)

Basis for Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Darwin, C., & Bynum, W. F. (2009). The origin of species by means of natural selection: or, the preservation of favored races in the struggle for life (p. 458). New York: AL Burt.

The Origin of The Species

Richard Dawkins asks three major questions about evolution in chapter 13, "The Long Reach of the Gene", in his book The Selfish Gene. They are:
- 1) Why did genes gang up in cells?
- 2) Why did cells gang up in many-celled bodies?
- 3) Why did bodies adapt a bottleneck lifestyle? (Why do some organisms begin as single cells, grow extremely large and specialized, only to reproduce through single cells?)

Dawkins 3 Questions about Evolution

References about Evolution

The replicator is the fundamental unit of life. Anything in the universe of which copies are made. They come into existence on chance, through the random synthesis of smaller particles and have the potential to replicate into an indefinite large set of themself. Through imperfect replication, variation occurs which improve or hurt the chances of further replication.

Selfish Gene Theory Thesis (The Replicator)

According to the theory of evolution by natural selection, organisms that are better suited for their environments tend to survive and reproduce in contrast to those that are ill-suited to their environments. This theory was co-developed by Charles Darwin.

Theory of Evolution By Natural Selection

A species of deep-sea fish uses a genetically determined bioluminescent lure to attract prey. Fish with brighter lures are more successful at attracting food and have a higher chance of surviving to reproduce. The species produces hundreds of offspring, but only a few survive to adulthood. However, every individual in the current population has a lure of the exact same brightness. Based on these conditions, why is the average lure brightness in this population unlikely to increase over time?

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