Replicator was formed. This molecule had the remarkable ability to create copies of its own. And so it went. The replicator started making copies were not always the same, and as the copying procedure continued the errors were getting cumulative and serious. These errors were essential for the progressive evolution of life. So from these errors there were varieties of replicating molecules that have been more stable than others, and others with more longevity that tended to me more numerous. As a result a competition began between them because the building blocks were used up at a rate that they became precious. So some varieties became less numerous in result of the competition, which brought up a struggle for survival. Some of them found a way to chemically break up molecules of rival varieties and use the building blocks for their own copying procedures and others discovered that they could protect themselves by building a wall of protein around them. The replicators that survived built the survival machines to exist in. Now their name is genes and we are their survival machines.
It is then when the writer presents the human body as a gigantic working unit for a colony of genes. To let the reader understand this in a simple way, Dawkins is referring to the brain and the nervous system of the human body. By recalling the example of the Andromedians, he wanted to describe what the distances between the genes in our body are, and how they communicate, so as to control the balance and the safety of the body. Brain is the control room and nerves are millions of cables connecting the main computer to the muscles with the motor nerves so as to have movement, and to the eyes and organs with the sensory nerves. Genes found the quickest way to download information from the brain to the rest of the body, and this is the speed of light and sound. The eyes capture visual icons, which are transferred to the main computer the brain with the speed of light, and ears use the speed of sound to send information.
From all this procedures that are presented by Dawkins, the reader can understand the main aspect of his book, which is that genes are selfish. If he follows the evolution he will see that molecules from their first states, were competitive and that the reason they created us was clearly for their own survival, which is a selfish way of acting.
The writer refers to several functions of the body so as to prove the selfishness of genes. One of these functions is the sexual reproduction, which genes use to build new survival machines and continued doing what they always did make copies of them and multiply.
Another function is communication with which genes influence the behavior or the state of the nervous system in another survival machine. The traditional story of ethologists is that communication signals evolved for the mutual benefit of both sender and recipient. Examples of communications are numerous: the song of birds, the barking of dogs, the language and speech of humans. When a baby wants to influence it’s mother behavior because of hunger or uncomfortability, it starts crying. This usually has the immediate effect of summoning the mother, who takes care of the babies’ need.
He gives the example of programming a computer to play chess and resembles it with the programming; genes do to their survival machines. As the programmer will program the computer with the dangers and the bad movements that might cost a king or a Queen, the same do genes with their survival machines. They set their computer up beforehand in the best way possible, with a proper balance between lists of specific knowledge and hints about strategies and techniques. After this programming, which is not directly but indirectly, the survival machine is on its own and the genes can only sit passively inside. Genes again for their own safety make this programming.
He presents genes as immortal. They accomplished to survive through millions of years and do not think they are likely to die. They copy themselves traveling from one body to another abandoning a succession of mortal bodies before they sink in senility and death. We are their survival machines and they are our replicators. With all his arguments he gave the conclusion that genes are selfish.
So Dawkins with all his presentations he tries to pass to the readers another prospective of their existence, which he accomplishes really well. His view makes absolute sense, Explained in plain words supporting it in the best way for everyone to be convinced.
