The Selfish Gene: The Immortal Coil

As we keep on reading this interesting book, we see how Dawkins has started to explain and define the world of genetics. He starts telling us that in the chapter there will be very important terms to facilitate the gene explanation. As Dawkins says " Different sorts of survival machine appear very varied on the outside and in their internal organs" (pg. 21) meaning the different gene terms.

allele: When two genes are rivals in a chromosome (Dawkins).

Meiosis: Division of cells produced in sexual relations (Dawkins).

Mitosis: The normal division of two new cells (Dawkins).

START Symbol: The first letter of a sequence of nucleotides in a protein chain (Dawkins).

END Symbol: The last letter of a sequence in a protein chain (Dawkins).

mimicry: Edited or rearranged.

Point Mutation: Error corresponding to a single misprinted letter.

Attached to this key terms in regards to genetics, Dawkins explains that the immortal coil is the DNA. "It consists of a pair of nucleotide chains twisted togetherin an elegant spiral; the double helix; the immortal coil" (pg. 22). This chapter is more scientific than any other one. This gives us a better perspective to continue undestanding th book.