In chapter three of The Selfish Gene we learn that genes benefit from assisting their host. Richard Dawkins states that Genes who help their host are prone to survive. Meanwhile, the odds of survival of genes that choose not to assist their host are extremely low. With this, we can conclude that the body may only function as a whole, especially when it comes to genes.
Another fact stated by Dawkins in the chapter that although logical, continues to surprise me is that there is an uncountable number of plants, animals, and viruses. We probably have not discovered half of the viruses that affect humans and animals daily, which is shocking and terrifying. Will we ever acknowledge all of these viruses? How many living creatures will be killed by them before these viruses are discovered and cured?
We live in a society in which we no longer take our time to appreciate nature and the animals surrounding us. In fact, we have destroyed the habitat of these animals and have pushed them into endangered species lists, etc. It is important for us to understand that everything that we do affects most of these species and that if we do nothing to prevent the harming of the environment we will extinguish species we have not even discovered or acknowledged.
Could humans be similar to genes? If we do not assist animals and other living things in our surroundings will we have the risk of extinction?
