Humans are mortals and we can't do anything to change that, the only thing we can do it try to leave something behind in order to be remembered. Genes are exempt from this law since they can't die like we do. Their state is almost eternal (there are exceptions but genes useful to the continuation of a species will continue to exist indefinitely). It is very hard to get rid of a gene that can continue living in different bodies. This idea of the potential eternity of genes appears here: "another aspect of the particulateness of the gene is that it does not grow senile…" (34) This reminded me of the gods from Greek mythology all around the world. They were immortal beings and all powerful. These gods regarded humans and mortals as nothing more than something entertaining to watch as eternity went by. As described here, gods could be genes. They are all powerful in our bodies. Genes can determine everything that you are physically and most of your psychological tendencies. Genes, can even determine when and how you will die(with doing what we consider to be "morally wrong" like God). What I find interesting is that these immortal things need of mortals to exist. Without us genes can't perpetuate their existence.
I then wandered what this meant for people. I realized that this book described humans (and every other living thing) as an insignificant medium to achieve the genes immortality. Our only purpose then is simply to be effective survival machines for genes. A gene "leaps from body to body down the generations, manipulating body after body in its own way for its own ends abandoning a succession of mortal bodies before they sink in senility and death"(34). Could it be that because our purpose is so simple and unimportant (because there are plenty of other humans with our genes even if not in the same order that can carry them on) that we continue to search for a more "meaningful" end?
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