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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Does the author believe that all people should act selfishly?

2. In Dawkins' examine of ESS simulations, what two kinds of creatures are there?

3. When a cell creates a sperm cell or egg cell with reduced DNA, what is the process called?

4. What is the name of the bee disease that Dawkins mentions in his example?

5. What is a "war of attrition" based on in ESS?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dawkins say about how genes "teach" a behavior to a bee?

2. In ESS simulations, what happens when a hawk enters a stable group of doves?

3. How do animals become active and quicker than plants?

4. What happens to genes in sexual reproduction?

5. In war of attrition scenarios, what is the best bet for individual behavior, according to Dawkins' reports?

6. How does Dawkins say that DNA differs from blueprints for making a building?

7. According to Dawkins, what happened to self-copying molecules that were less successful?

8. Explain why Dawkins speculates that cannibalism might make sense within his selfish gene theory.

9. Describe the behavior of chains of atoms in human blood, as Dawkins describes it.

10. What are the main actions living organisms do, as gene machines?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of Dawkins' primary premises is that the good of the individual is what organisms strive for, not the good of the species. Discuss the conflict between the individual and the species in The Selfish Gene.

1) Why are individuals representative of their genes?

2) What is Dawkins' central argument for selfishness of individuals within a species? Why does the selfishness of genes translate to the selfishness of individuals?

3) What are the arguments that other scientists pose for individuals acting for the good of the species, and how does Dawkins counter those arguments?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Darwin's treatment of siblings in The Selfish Gene.

1) In what ways are siblings in competition? Why doesn't competition between siblings typically escalate to deadly competition?

2) In what ways do siblings cooperate or benefit each other?

3) How do the relationships between siblings vary between species in the natural world, and how does this relate to Dawkins' overall theory.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Dawkins' treatment of memes.

1) How does Dawkins apply theories of evolution to memes? How do memes differ from genes?

2) What role do memes play in human culture? Do memes play any role in other species' existence?

3) How do memes relate to Dawkins' theory of the selfish gene? Why does he discuss memes?

(see the answer keys)

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