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Nature essay argues 'The Selfish Gene' needs updating for modern biology

Nature publishes essay reconsidering 'The Selfish Gene' at 50 years

1 Oct 26 · 13d ago · 1 article · 1 source · development 1 of 3

Nathaniel Comfort, a science historian, publishes an essay in Nature News questioning the enduring relevance of Richard Dawkins' 1976 book. Comfort argues that re-reading the work through a modern lens reveals problematic assumptions: that organisms are passive 'vehicles' for genes, that genetic determinism explains traits like aggression, and that the gene-centric view has become scientifically outdated.

Nature publishes essay reconsidering 'The Selfish Gene' at 50 years
nature.com

“Re-reading it now, with decades of scholarship in the history of biology under my belt, it seems less benign. The determinism baked into the 'gene's-eye view' in the book troubles me.”

Nathaniel Comfort

Nathaniel Comfort Science historian, Nature essay authorRichard DawkinsRichard Dawkins Biologist, 'The Selfish Gene' author

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Peak 3 pieces in 4h at Oct 25, 7 PM; 12 pieces over 14 days (5 articles · 7 posts) Oct 25, 7 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Mastodon 1Oct 25, 11 PM — quietOct 26, 3 AM — quietOct 26, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 26, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 26, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 26, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 26, 11 PM — quietOct 27, 3 AM — quietOct 27, 7 AM — quietOct 27, 11 AM — quietOct 27, 3 PM — quietOct 27, 7 PM — quietOct 27, 11 PM — quietOct 28, 3 AM — quietOct 28, 7 AM — quietOct 28, 11 AM — quietOct 28, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 28, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 11 PM — quietOct 29, 3 AM — quietOct 29, 7 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — quietOct 29, 3 PM — quietOct 29, 7 PM — quietOct 29, 11 PM — quietOct 30, 3 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — quietOct 30, 11 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 30, 3 PM — quietOct 30, 7 PM — quietOct 30, 11 PM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Oct 31, 7 AM — quietOct 31, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Oct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 7 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — quietNov 1, 6 AM — quietNov 1, 10 AM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 6 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quiet 1–3
1–3Nature publishes essay reconsidering 'The…
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What was reported 2 claims about this development

  1. 4 outlets The Selfish Gene , 50 years on — it’s time for an update

    first by Nature, 13d ago · also The Guardian, Guardian Science, Nature News

    2 more headlines
  2. 1 outlet Daily briefing: The Selfish Gene, 50 years on

    first by Nature News, 13d ago

All 3 developments of Nature essay argues 'The Selfish Gene' needs updating for… →

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