Mutation of the selfish gene

A gene mutation is a permanent change in the DNA and mutations range from a single DNA base to a large segment of a chromosome. They can be inherited from parents or acquired during a person’s lifetime. The hereditary mutation is present throughout a person’s life in virtually every cell in the body. What is so special about genes? Well, the answer is that they are “replicators” that evolves by the disparity survival of replicating entities. Just as genes propagate themselves in the gene pool so memes propagate themselves from brain to brain via a process called imitation. Examples of memes are tunes, ideas, catch phrases etc. If one hears or reads a good article or idea, he passed it on to his family and friends. If the idea catches on, it can be said to propagate itself, spreading from brain to brain.

It does not matter how the world comes about, what remains real is Dawkins’ theory on the selfish gene. Whether it is the evolution of the savanna effect or the disobedience of Adam and Eves, the selfish gene is certainly in all of us, either active or passive. As Buddha said, how can one get angry if there is no anger in him? Hence, if we do not have the selfish gene in us, then we will be extremely philanthropic and the universe will truly be a beautiful world. In the face of a crisis, our selfish gene will surface and becomes very dominant. Selfish genes have no foresight. They are unconscious and blind “replicators” waiting to be awaken. Nonetheless, we have the power to defy our selfish gene and the selfish memes of our indoctrination. We have the power not to nurture but to rebel against the tyranny of the selfish gene as our brain has the capacity for genuine and true altruism and the ability to exploit it to the fullest if only we want to.