Selfish Gene

Read this book sometime back. I haven't read Darwin's book "Origin of species" but have a working knowledge of his idea from high school science. One of Darwin's theory (on evolution) is survival of the fittest. This book goes one step further and explains that it is the survival of the fittest gene and not an individual as most of us might think. If genes are taken as the survival units then lot of evolutionary behaviours can be explained, according to this book.

I am not a biology student but I could easily understand all the ideas and concepts put forth in the book. Also found myself agreeing with most of them.

One thing, that I found very interesting, was the explanation on seemingly selfless behaviour of organisms - Instances like when an organism sacrifices its life for its offspring or sibling. The book explains how this still falls under the shadow of the theory of evolution and does not go against it.

Another interesting part in the book was the section on game of life. In this game one has two choices, you can either cooperate with others or you can engage in conflict. Depending on what your opponent does - when you cooparete or fight - you win or loose some points. The game was contested in a computer among lot prorams, each with its own strategy to fight or cooperate. The program which won the contest was the simplest of the lot. It statrts by coperating and then repeats whatever the opponent does. It is explained in detail in the book.

Very interesting book.