Why Richard Dawkins' Selfish Gene theory is wrong | Denis Noble

Quick Overview

Denis Noble argues that the 20th-century gene-centric dogma of biology is fundamentally wrong, citing four main dogmas—the Central Dogma (DNA to RNA to Protein), the Weismann Barrier, DNA self-replication 'like a crystal,' and the separation of the replicator (DNA) from the vehicle (the body)—all of which he asserts are incorrect based on modern molecular evidence, especially regarding non-genetic contributions to the germline and the lack of correlation between single genes and complex diseases.

Key Points: The speaker asserts that the four main dogmas of 20th-century gene-centric biology are incorrect based on current molecular evidence, referencing a February 2024 Nature review supporting this. Dogma 1 (Central Dogma: DNA -> RNA -> PROTEINS) is incomplete because it does not account for organism editing and changing its genes via processes like RNA influencing DNA. Dogma 2 (Weismann Barrier) is refuted by evidence showing Control RNAs communicate body characteristics to germ cells via tiny vesicles, which Charles Darwin intuitively understood. Dogma 3 (DNA self-replicates 'like a crystal') is false because DNA self-replication is inaccurate in long genomes (like the 3 billion base pair human genome), requiring living cells for error correction. Dogma 4 (Replicator/DNA is separate from its vehicle/body) is refuted by the impossibility of self-replication in long genomes, meaning the replicator is not separate from its vehicle. The failure of genome sequencing to deliver cures for major diseases (cancer, diabetes, heart disease) over 20 years, as promised by Francis Collins in 1999, demonstrates the flawed gene-centric view. The proposed solution is shifting focus from genes to 'functional physiological networks,' emphasizing physiology as crucial to understanding living systems.

Context: The video features biologist Denis Noble challenging the foundational principles of gene-centric biology, often referred to as the 'selfish gene' theory popularized by Richard Dawkins. Noble presents four specific dogmas central to this view, arguing they have been overturned by recent scientific findings, particularly concerning epigenetics and complex disease etiology, as highlighted in a recent review in the journal Nature. He contrasts this historical model with the importance of functional physiological networks.