Ian Crofton

Memes
The biologist Richard Dawkins coined the term ‘meme’ for the cultural equivalent of a gene. A meme is any transmittable idea, behaviour, style or technology. Some memes – such as clay writing tablets – flourish for a while until superseded by something better. Others, such as the concept of God, have proved more persistent

WHERE DOES THE ENERGY COME FROM?

We share 98.7 per cent of our DNA with chimpanzees and bonobos, but these two species differ in their behaviour. Chimps are male-dominated, hunt in groups, are aggressively territorial, and may kill other chimps. Only high-ranking males get to mate. Chimps use a variety of tools, for example to crack nuts or to catch ants. Tool use has only been observed among bonobos in captivity.
Bonobo groups are dominated by females (who have strong bonds with each other), although there is much less sexual differentiation than in chimps. The territories of different bonobo groups overlap, and they have not been observed hunting in groups. Sex is frequent between males and females, and with members of the same sex. Sex is important for social bonding and conflict resolution, not just for reproduction. This has been described as ‘sex for peace’.
Claiming thabt behaviour is genetically determined is always going to prove controversial. But it is certainly possible to see some aspects of human behaviour reflected in that of the chimps, while other aspects are closer to that of the bonobos