“Man selects only for his own good; Nature only for that of the being which she tends.” – Charles Darwin
Darwin explained the principle by which slight variations of traits, if useful, were preserved. Such preservation of favorable variations, and the rejection of those variations which were not beneficial, is what he referred to as Natural Selection. Moreover, Darwin explains that natural selection is dependent on a “state of nature” which enables the modifications of “organic beings” through the accumulation of “profitable” variations. Furthermore, Darwin argues that natural selection cannot modify the structure of a species without providing a certain advantage, hitting towards the role of sexual selection. Darwin defined sexual selection not as a struggle for existence but as the effects of the "struggle between the males for possession of the females,” the result not being death to the unsuccessful but lower production of progeny.
Natural selection is dependent on interactions with the environment. Dawkins argued that the gene’s survival is dependent on their interaction with the environment. Moreover, Dawkins argued that the environment also consisted of genes, which cooperate and compete with each other. Those who are better at cooperating and better in competing will persist. Sexual production is mainly shifted towards the greater production of quality progeny. In the “selfish” view, females look for the most fit male to mate with and better enhance her genes while passing them onto future generations.
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The summary you gave of Darwins differences between natural and sexual selection is very good and consise.
ReplyDeleteCarlos,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the "selfish gene" hypothesis stated by Dawkins is true in some cases. But I will have to agree more with Darwin that the environment has a huge role in how both natural selection and sexual selection is transmitted to future generations(food supplies, bottlenecks, and gene flow) all will contribute to advantages and disadvantages to organisms.
Good explaination of both sexual and natural selection by Darwin and Dawkins. I was under the impression however that both Dawkins and Darwin agree with their thoughts about sexual selection
ReplyDeleteYour entry explains natural and sexual selection from Darwin and Dawkins point of view very well! I also think that how females look for the bet fit male, males may also look for the best fit females.
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