Reflections

BOOK REVIEW : THE SELFISH GENE by RICHARD DAWKINS The Selfish Gene is one of the most famous popular books on Genetics. After reading it, I can state that it is an excellent work, though not strictly on pure Genetics. I prefer to call it the realm of "applied" genetics, or rather the external effect, phenotypics of genetics. That said, even that is inadequate; it also covers seminal grounds in a variety of areas of life, and the imprint of the Gene on these areas : simple living, rearing, reproduction, and much more. KEY TAKEAWAYS But what takes the cake for me is the questions it asks in the last chapter wherein Mr Dawkins has examined the question of why should single celled organisms in the primordial soup evolve into multi-celled organisms, which is the most fundamental question in all Science; it is the proverbial last frontier of Science. As one reads it, it becomes apparent that Science is still floundering; while we have gone light-years into space ...

As we go past yet another new year, yet another winter, the news is again splashed with articles on Pollution… just the same as last year. While this year, realization is wider, happily – but the changes are insufficient, given the scale of the issue. As Humans and their Science progresses, as Population grows, as consumption grows and needs grow – these and similar problems will continue. There are no easy solutions; no easy answers. Solutions will have to be a combination of kneejerk & planned; these will partially alleviate, while leaving the core problems untouched, leaving   a scope for future isssues to arise. A circular circle… one that needs to be broken! THE CORE To understand these issues from the core requires an acceptance that it is we Humans, our Science, and our Consumption that lies at the core. This is a hard thing for people to grant – especially the last 2 points. Our Scientific Progress is held in high   esteem by most; and it is this pro...