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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. Which cells in an organism contain the creature's DNA?

2. What molecules does Dawkins say existed in ancient seas and formed amino acids?

3. How does Dawkins argue for communication being selfish?

4. What would give longevity to early self-duplicating molecules, according to Dawkins?

5. How many nucleotide chains are in DNA?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a cistron?

2. Why doesn't Dawkins find it statistically remarkable that an early molecule would arise that would copy itself?

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

4. Explain how the Watt Governor uses mechanics to regulate itself.

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

6. What does Dawkins say would happen if a selfish member of a species were born into a species of unselfish members?

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

8. In Dawkins' metaphor about DNA, what is the role of page numbers?

9. What happens to genes in sexual reproduction?

10. What does Dawkins say would be a natural extension of valuing one's own species more than other species?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The opposite of selfishness is altruism, and Dawkins argues that many seemingly altruistic behaviors actually originate with the selfishness of genes. Discuss altruism in Dawkins' book.

1) What altruistic behaviors does Dawkins attribute to selfish genes? How convincing are his arguments?

2) What is "altruism"? Is there such a thing as true "altruism?"

3) How can altruism function for the good of the individual or for the good of the individual's genes?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Dawkins' ideas about communication as presented in The Selfish Gene.

1) How does Dawkins define communication?

2) What is the role of lying in the natural world and in survival? How does lying relate to Dawkins' ideas in The Selfish Gene?

3) What altruistic roles does communication play? What selfish roles can communication play in the natural world? How does Dawkins refute ideas that communication is essentially altruistic and functions for the good of the species?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the elements that contribute to survival in an evolutionary system.

1) What role does fecundity play in evolutionary survival? Why does fecundity play and important role? How is its role different in molecular reproduction and in the lives of complex organisms?

2) What role does fidelity play in evolutionary survival? What role does it play in evolutionary change?

3) What role does longevity play in evolutionary survival? How is longevity different in a system of molecules in competition, versus in a system of organisms in competition?

(see the answer keys)

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