Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id WAA25664 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 8 Jan 2001 22:55:51 GMT From: <lhousego@axa.com.au> X-Lotus-FromDomain: NMH@NMHEXT@NMHDMZ To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Message-Id: <4A2569CE.008235A1.00@c2.nm.com.au> Date: Tue, 9 Jan 2001 09:49:37 +1000 Subject: Re: DNA / culture ---> trivial? Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Never trivial, but also not deserving sole focus of study. As you argue
with Memes using DNA in combinations for a DNA/Meme package each assisting
each others survival, so too do Meme/Meme packages. MP3 and TCP/IP for a
current issues example.
This meme/meme can be observed clearly as memes are capable of spreading
faster and with higher integrity than before through utilisation of new
infrastructure, itself created by learned behaviour.
It is my opinion that meme/meme combinations will increasingly be more
significant than DNA/meme combinations.
TJ Olney <market@cc.wwu.edu> on 09/01/2001 06:18:29 am
Please respond to memetics@mmu.ac.uk
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
cc:
Subject: DNA / culture ---> trivial?
I continually run into level of analysis issues and I see another one here.
While it is clear that currently, DNA passes by sexual reproduction, and it
is also clear that memes are transmitted culturally, it is not clear that
there is no interaction between the two. It is not clear that the
interaction between the two stops at the rather important but simple level
of
"genes must support the existence of memes". Memes may in fact allow the
continued transmission of genes that in a non-memetic context would not
survive.
What of the continuing discoveries of genes that are "turned on" by
certain environmental conditions. Memetic data can alter a persons
behavior to avoid those environmental conditions. The DNA coding will be
passed on, of course, but so might the memetic coding.
Isn't this what is happening in the breast cancer world? In fact, it is
entirely conceivable to create a DNA/meme package that ensures survival,
when
the DNA package by itself could be deadly. We tend not to completely cull
our genetic problems, but to memetically adapt to maintain those genetic
problems in the gene pool.
I'm afraid I can't agree that the DNA / culture distinction is trivial.
Anytime the DNA protein encoding fosters but does not guarantee certain
physical developments, there is the possibility of memetic/genetic or
culture/DNA interactions. Again, I refer you to identical twin studies to
look at some of these fascinating interactions.
TJ Olney
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