The Church of Reality

Tricycle

Home

Table of Contents

I wonder what I'll find out next!

This is Magger Frane's 'blog.

genes and the possessive pronoun

I saw a blog entry in which a person despaired at his inability thus far to pass along his genes via reproduction.

Being a gay fella who has not yet reproduced, I am familiar with this line of thought.

But recently I've stopped thinking of the DNA inhabiting my body as "my" genes. I think it would be more accurate to say that I am the DNA's human.

I didn't do any work to create this DNA. I didn't purchase this DNA. I've done nothing that would grant me a property interest in this DNA. No, it's the other way around. This DNA created me. This DNA is responsible for me, this DNA owns me.

If I don't reproduce, that's not my fault, it's the DNA's fault for not creating a human who manages to reproduce.

Quite a liberating idea, I think. I get to live a fulfilling life, thanks to this superbly evolved DNA. But whether I reproduce or not is not. my. problem.

:-)

[Previous entry: "deregulation bias, and a better way"] [TOC] [Next entry: "Most immigrants to the US have been neither Hispanic nor illegal"]

TERMS OF SERVICE: All the original contents of this web site are copyrighted by Magger Frane as of the date of publication. You expressly understand and agree that your use of this 'blog is at your sole risk. You expressly understand and agree that Magger Frane shall not be liable for any damages resulting from your use of this 'blog. Any dispute, controversy or difference arising out of, in relation to, or in connection with, the foregoing, which cannot be settled by mutual agreement, shall be ignored.

DISCLAIMER: Use of semi-advanced computing technology does not imply an endorsement of Western Industrial Civilization (nor does it imply that I believe this technology was reverse-engineered at Roswell).