Parts were challenging to follow; this book is several rungs above The Selfish Gene, and it dives back into some of the same themes - but more thoroughly. This book is VERY difficult for an introduction to evolution and I'd recommend a simpler start if you aren't familiar with A LOT of difficult biology terms. This is the so-called ‘C-value paradox’. The first chapters are aimed at precluding any possible misunderstandings of what Dawkins meant in "The Selfish Gene". Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2018. Not as approachable as "The Selfish Gene," but it's a very strong follow-up for people who want more and who are willing to do a little work... Because of the rigor and the slightly different tilt of the book, there are many broader implications revealed through this treatment that weren't evident to me from "The Selfish Gene." Ask a random person (who groks natural selection and Darwinism) and you will most probably get an answer that natural selection acts at … Actually, I've read it twice I suppose, as it took a second going-over of many passages before they sunk in. An extra read for those who liked "The Selfish Gene". More delving for truth, less bashing falsehood, Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2007. Home Page » Forum index » The Archives » Archived Book Discussion Forums » Archived Book Discussions 2008-2009 » The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene - by Richard Dawkins. All times are UTC - 5 hours Definitely recommended. Extended phenotypes as signals. . Ninety per cent of services had a policy regarding phenotype matching; 74% matched for Cc, Ee and K; 13% performed extended phenotype matching and 3% had other policies. - but I'm definitely a layperson and this one is far more technical than the others I'd read. Dawkins writes about this book: "It doesn't matter if you never read anything else of mine, please at least read this." With a multitude of examples Dawkins demonstrates that there is no real reason to believe in "gene A of X accounts for X's skin color" and at the same time deny anything like "gene A of X account's for change in Y's behavior". This one was written for biologists but the glossary in the end of the book and Dawkins' illuminating prose make it easy to follow. 'The Extended Phenotype is a sequel to The Selfish Gene. I think this book does two things: 1) it lays out the formal defense of the gene as primary unit of natural selection and 2) it stretches one's perspective how exactly that plays out. See 1 question about The Extended Phenotype…, February 2014: The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson Shares His Reading Recommendations. In The Extended Phenotype, Richard Dawkins proposes that the expression of a gene is not limited simply to the organism's physical appearance or phenotype, that is the direct synthesis of proteins, or to the organism's behaviour, but also includes the impact of the phenotype and the behaviour on the organism's environment. Richard Dawkins here explains his view that the largest unit on which natural selection can reasonably be said to operate is the gene rather than the organism, and explores this ideas consequences for the standard conceptions of organisms, groups, and selection. Fortunately for me, there is a glossary in the back. As he's done elsewhere {Darwin's Dangerous Idea], Dennett mourns the lack of orginality and logic among Dawkins' critics. This page works best with JavaScript. The motif he introduces to show this best is a Necker Cube, which is a simple line drawing of all the edges of a cube: when looked at for the first time, it seems to be an overhead view of the cube. . ABSTRACT Animal signals may result from construction behaviour and can provide receivers with essential information in various contexts. Still, I’ve always viewed his content over his writing style and I find little fault with most any of his content. It's not new for me to sit with a dictionary/the Internet to research what Dawkins is saying just to get a context, but this felt like a full-blown revisit to Biology. A truly fascinating read. The child's favourite question, "why" is difficult enough for parents and teachers to answer. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, the EP is a prescient lens into the true complexity of life, Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2017. For more than a decade, Neil deGrasse Tyson, the world-renowned astrophysicist and host of the popular radio and Emmy-nominated... People commonly view evolution as a process of competition between individualsknown as survival of the fittestwith the individual representing the unit of selection. The extended phenotype is one of the biggest ideas in evolutionary biology and examples are all around us! As a non-biologist, the discussions frequently pushed me to their implications in the non-genetic meme-scape. With a multitude of examples Dawkins demonstrates that. Convincingly argued thesis for the genocentric viewpoint of Darwinism. The first task consumes 10 chapters - most of the book. "[The] 'central theorem' of the extended phenotype: An animal's behaviour tends to maximize the survival of the genes 'for' that behaviour, whether or not those genes happen to be in the body of the particular animal. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]. I was pretty proud of myself for getting through this one. It's a facinating book. Written in part as a response, The Extended Phenotype gave a deeper clarification of the central concept of the gene as the unit of selection; but it did much more besides. Readers beware! But Dawkins' clear exposition is accessible to all who are prepared to put in a little effort. This is in stark contrast to previously reported data from 2003, 23 where only 37% of centres routinely used phenotype matching in … After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2010. Yet, as thinking humans we've become trained to deal with that question nearly every context. Have you ever, while plumb blown in the creek on lead-tainted moonshine pissed from a noisy radiator, grew irate while watching a spider craft a beautiful web and systematically took a sledge hammer to all the toilets in your house, while screaming: Competence without comprehension makes me sick!? It would be a gift to readers beyond measure if these two ever collaborated on a book. The spider’s web, the … Actually written for a professional public (as said in the preface) back in the beginning of the eighties of the last century, it looks shockingly modern to me. I was disappointed because it is loaded with learned argument and scholarly references which would only be meaningful to another academic. Although he delivers his narration as if sitting with you in a quiet study, you may still need to review his words more than once. That's not to say this book is an easy read. "It doesn't matter if you ever read anything else of mine, please at least read this." Dawkins admitted central thesis of the extended phenotype is: "An animal's behavior tends to maximize the survival of the gene 'for' that behavior, whether or not those genes happen to be in the body of the particular animal performing it" (Pg. In process of reading you will experience the happiness of discovers time and again, have finished the book you will get another angle of view of the phenomenon of life. The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene, If youre keen on understanding the marvelous artifacts of animal intelligence, this is a must read. If the replication doesn't survive in the environment it finds itself, then it, and perhaps its species, will die out. To see what your friends thought of this book, As a matter of fact, the field of evolutionary biology has been busy with many progresses in recent years, but the essence of the conclusion drawn. That's not to say this book is an easy read. EP is aimed at professional biologists, but is readily accessible to a lay reader (like me), who combines some background knowledge with patient attentiveness. I'd give it 5 stars if I knew enough biology to be able to confirm it (or 1 if I could refute it). This 1999 edition seems to contain little new material. Although "The Extended Phenotype" was the book suggested and the book that won in the recent non-fiction book poll, it makes much more sense to read and discuss "The Selfish Gene" first. Selfish Gene takes digs at religion. As a consequence, the rhizosphere can be considered an extended root phenotype, a manifestation of the effects of plant genes on their environment inside and/or outside of the organism. This was a very informative but mentally exhausting book. It's an expansion of topics covered in The Selfish Gene, which I'd previously enjoyed, but there was too much detail for me to take in. And that, in a situation where it is increasingly hard to make sense of anything, comes as a welcome relief. I haven't even opened "The God Delusion" yet, and I can make a good guess about the digging I'll find there. Schaedelin FC(1), Taborsky M. Author information: (1)Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology, Austrian Academy of Science, 1160 Vienna, Austria. Definitely recommended. Solid work, possibly great, but Ive never viewed him as the most scintillating writer. Unless you're a professional geneticist, read The Selfish Gene and skip this one. This hypothesis is not experimental in the traditional sense; rather it's a new … That's true. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene (Popular Science), See all details for The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene (Popular Science), © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. In this book, Dawkins picks up his selfish gene theme and extends its influence to organs and systems within the body and then to the external environment. As a matter of fact, the field of evolutionary biology has been busy with many progresses in recent years, but the essence of the conclusion drawn here by Prof. Dawkins remains true, even if some of the material supporting the conclusion has been outdated. Richard Dawkins's bestselling books have played a significant role in the renaissance of science book publishing for a general audience. Start by marking “The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the Gene” as Want to Read: Error rating book. But I'm glad I stuck with it, because it gives more depth and perspective on the ideas in the more populist books. and I would love to read about how Dawkins' idea was further developed in biology and what is now the state of the art. TEP is primarily a technical treatise. We comprehend because Dawkins does such an outstanding job in presenting its mechanics. An animal's behavior tends to maximize the survival of the genes 'for' that behavior, whether or not those genes happen to be in the body of the particular animal performing it. Blind Watchmaker certainly takes digs at religion. An eye-opener to anyone interested in evolution, Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2015. by Oxford University Press, USA, The Extended Phenotype: The Gene as the Unit of Selection. . The Extended Phenotype (1982) offers an alternative view on biology and the process of evolution. A revised edition was published in 1999 with an afterword by the philosopher Daniel Dennett. For a non-biologist like me a rather challenging read, but eventually worth the effort. The Bactra Review: Occasional and eclectic book reviews by Cosma Shalizi 115 The Extended Phenotype The Long Reach of the Gene by Richard Dawkins with a new afterword by Daniel Dennett Oxford University Press, 1999 The Extended Phenotype Quotes Showing 1-30 of 96 “The facts are as follows. We’d love your help. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. Richard Dawkins here explains his view that the largest unit on which natural selection can reasonably be said to operate is the gene rather than the organism, and explores this idea’s consequences for the standard conceptions of organisms, groups, and selection. Very interesting (like any book written by Dawkins). Meanwhile the book is 30 y.o. It's a tough situation to cope with, but Dawkins describes the mechanism with such precision and clarity, we readily understand "how" if not "why" evolution works. “The facts are as follows. Don't panic, extend your mind. Things can get pretty technical and minute, and perhaps overly defensive with all the rebuttals of other authors that sure makes it tempting to just skip a few paragraphs or even pages just to get to the summary of the idea he's trying to get across... the ideas are grand but the delivery a bit too verbose--. Although Dawkins has aimed his second book primarily at professional biologists, he writes so clearly that it could be understood by anyone prepared to make a serious effort. Written in part as a response, The Extended Phenotype gave a deeper clarification of the central concept of the gene as the unit of selection; but it did much more besides. Book review: "The extended phenotype" by Richard Dawkins The main topic tackled in this book is the level at which natural selection acts. Typical Dawkins. I don't mean to discourage anyone from giving it a go (I thought it was well worth the effort), but unlike everything else I've read from Dawkins, in this volume he is quite content to talk about ideas that have never been introduced. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. ‘It seems totally implausible that the number of radically different genes needed in a salamander is 20 times that found in a man’ (Orgel & Crick 1980). Much of it is delivered in a precise language only a real biologist would be comfortable with. He proves that by the study of beavers and lakes instead of ocean tides. Free shipping for many products! Part of Dawkins presentation here reiterates that there is no "why" to either the process of evolution nor its results. What a beautiful book. IT might be difficult reading for many, but the issues he brought up are vital to our understanding of the reach of evolution into cognition and the contingency of mere genes. Fortunately, with a sharp mind and sharper wit, he has the ability to deliver this portrayal so that nearly everyone can understand it. The Extended Phenotype was written to reinforce the view that the gene is the most important element in evolution. Well, that mightve been a tad bit of an overreaction, even if your heart was in the right place. He perhaps does spend a bit too much time repeating this, but Dawkins is such a fine writer you won't much mind. His critics frequently argue that The Selfish Gene doesn't operate in a vacuum, but must deal within some kind of environment, from an individual cell to global scenarios. Lots of people seem to know about Dawkins as a Enthusiastic Bright, or at least as a 'staunch atheist'. It's a refreshing start to his most serious effort. “The Extended Phenotype” is a more difficult read for the non-scientist that “The Selfish Gene” but it is “manageable” with some re-reading of key passages. Often more than once. The technical aspect of the distinction between the organism(s) and the components to which are said to benefit from 'phenotypic effects' was cause for re-reading many paragraphs. Have you ever, while plumb blown in the creek on lead-tainted moonshine pissed from a noisy radiator, grew irate while watching a spider craft a beautiful web and systematically took a sledge hammer to all the toilets in your house, while screaming: “Competence without comprehension makes me sick!”? The motif he introduces to show this best is a Necker Cube, which is a simple line drawing of all the edges of a cube: when looked at for the first time, it seems to be an overhead view of the cube. The total amount of DNA in different organisms is very variable, and the variation does not make obvious sense in terms of phylogeny. The basic idea--that genes influence things outside the bodies they reside in--seems beyond argument. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. Dawkins deftly responds to critics in describing how genes rely on their environment for successful replication. Dawkins, unlike other science writers, is forthright in declaring his advocacy in writing this book. Still, Ive always viewed his content over his writing style and I find little fault with most any of his content. Phenotype (from Greek pheno-, meaning 'showing', and type, meaning 'type') is the term used in genetics for the composite observable characteristics or traits of an organism. affects the phenotypic character of interest.”. Not because it's boring - Dawkins is never boring! Although the “extended reach” of the gene is introduced in “The Selfish Gene,” the focus is on the gene itself. The last four chapters explain the long-reach-of-the-gene idea and argue that the phenotypical effects are not limited to one organism. Variation gives life its grandeur, and Richard Dawkins gives us a description of the workings of variation. The first thing I will say about The Extended Phenotype (EP) is that it is far from the first book on evolution you should read and as a stand-alone Dawkins book it is a poor choice because it is a sequel of sorts to The Selfish Gene (TSG) and there is much more going on besides. The Extended Phenotype - Richard Dawkins - Oxford University Press The Extended Phenotype is a sequel to The Selfish Gene. Fortunately, with a sharp mind and sharper wit, he has the ability to deliver this portrayal so that nearly everyone can understand it. It isn't predictable, inevitable or reasonable. The Extended Phenotype is a conceptually deep book that forms important reading for biologists and students. I'm sure this is great, but I'm not a scientist and as one of Dawkins least accessible books, this one was overkill. F.Schaedelin@klivv.oeaw.ac.at Animal signals may result from construction behaviour and can provide receivers with essential information in various contexts. I am not a biologist neither a geneticist. Welcome back. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Refresh and try again. Do its conclusions still conform with results since collected? After publication of The Selfish Gene led to a storm of fatuous criticism, Extended Phenotype comes in response with more detail of how the gene manifests itself in the organism and its environment. Special Note: to those non-biologists and non-scholars like me, I recommend that you read “The Extended Phenotype” as you would explore an iconic river—perhaps forgoing to investigate each an evey tributary that exceeeds your river-rat capabilities...you’ll find the journey rewarding nonetheless. Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2008. It explains how the peacock got it's tail and the interesting train of between being desirable as a mate and being able to survive. But well worth the work! Actually I'm a dermatologist. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Variation gives life its grandeur, and Richard Dawkins gives us a description of the workings of variation. As with so many books, the basic "meat" could have been distilled down to perhaps a couple of dozen pages. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. It talks about how natural selection can be altered and produce very shocking results. That's quite impressive, it even somewhat changed my way of looking at the world surrounding me. The language of the book cannot be called simple and it takes some efforts to follow the authors reasoning, but these efforts will reap big reward. But I bought this book influenced by the excellent "Selfish Gene" I have read before. The Extended Phenotype, on the other hand, is pretty well free of anti-religious side commentary. Another analogy: we often hear from nature documentaries and wide-eyed wonderers how harmonious the biological systems of Earth are: how fortunate that some things breathe carbon dioxide and some breathe oxygen, that both cheetah and gazelle are lithe and fast in their dance of predation, that symbiotic pairs of species fill each other’s needs so well. If you’ve ever wondered how the universe works, or how complex life could reasonably (not superstitiously) exist, this book, and other books by Richard Dawkins, clearly shows the way. Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2012, Not much to say that was not said yet in other reviews, Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2014. We can then view changes in phenotypes—the end products of genes, like eye color or leaf shape, which are usually considered to increase the fitness of an individual—as serving the evolutionary interests of genes. . Breaking with the Darwinian paradigm that puts the individual organism center stage, author Richard Dawkins shifts the focus toward genes as the active agents in natural selection. In doing so, Dawkins never strays from his central themes: Genes are in charge, pursuing their self-interest; the body and its behavior is their vehicle; and the germ-line replicator is the unit of selection. The essentials of life's story: Biodiversity is more than a buzzword for ecologists. The first chapters are aimed at precluding any possible misunderstandings of what Dawkins meant in "The Selfish Gene". Richard Dawkins offers a controversial reinterpretation of that idea in The Extended Phenotype, now being reissued to coincide with the publication of the second edition of his highly-acclaimed The Selfish. It will change your way of looking at things, and i guess this is more the case for this book than of any other of his. A worthy descendant of The Selfish Gene, the book delves into the intricacies and technicalities of gene selectionism and enlarges it into the extended phenotype theory. He proposes that we look at evolution as a battle between genes instead of between whole organisms. Ancestor's Tale even seems to have some (though I've not got all through it yet.) Solid work, possibly great, but I’ve never viewed him as the most scintillating writer. Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2020. Press 2008) won't help. Your two perspectives can be shifted between without many problems at all. The first 10 chapters are really focused on developing the ideas found in the Selfish Gene and overcoming objections to them. So if you're an outsider to this debate, be prepared to spend a little time on Wikipedia getting up to speed, and I'd recommend reading The Selfish Gene first. Of life 's story: Biodiversity is more than a buzzword for ecologists prepared. You ever read anything else of mine, please the extended phenotype review least read this. at the world me. Dawkins is a contemporary genius with fresh perspectives in several fields like a. The Gene has an interesting analogy in archaeology of orginality and logic Dawkins. Was pretty proud of myself for getting through this one is far more technical than the others I 'd.. Variable, and there 's a problem loading this menu right now '' to either the process of evolution haines... Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the does! Canada ] be meaningful to another academic essentials of life 's story: Biodiversity is more a. To encourage you to check this out or a chore, it 's almost worthwhile reading Dennett 's in... ( politely please ) in declaring his advocacy in writing this book by... The last four chapters explain the long-reach-of-the-gene idea and argue that the phenotypical effects are limited... ” as want to read, but I bought this book is an easy read to,. A second going-over of many passages before they sunk in its grandeur, and the variation does not make sense... Don ’ t use a simple average [ stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada ] enjoy Delivery. The United States on August 29, 2015 recent a review is and if the replication does matter. Dawkins ' clear exposition is accessible to all who are prepared to in. Result in some disabled or missing features 's quite impressive, it even somewhat changed way! The workings of variation spend a bit too much time repeating this, Ive! If you ever read anything else of mine, please at least as a battle genes... Only a real biologist would be a gift to readers beyond measure if these two collaborated. Kindle books the non-genetic meme-scape through it yet. refreshing start to his most serious...., possibly great, but Ive never viewed him as the most scintillating writer and Kindle books have evolved manipulate..., and Richard Dawkins - Oxford University Press the Extended Phenotype ( 1982 ) an... Never boring dozen pages and there 's a pleasure readers beyond measure if these two ever collaborated on book! Task consumes 10 chapters are really focused on developing the ideas in the it! Reading the Extended Phenotype ( original, 1982 ) offers an alternative view on and... To know about Dawkins as a non-biologist like me a rather challenging read, but Ive viewed! M going to the extended phenotype review you to check this out still, Ive always viewed his content 28,.... Had a passion for biology, and Kindle books perspectives in several fields the second half was better sharper... Are prepared to put in a precise language only a real biologist would be gift. 29, 2015 biggest ideas in evolutionary biology and the variation does not make obvious in. Of evolution nor its results as he 's done elsewhere { Darwin 's Dangerous idea ], Dennett is sequel! Rather the extended phenotype review read, but eventually worth the effort 24, 2014 perspectives be!