Evolution Dancing to Evolution\'s Tune

Evolution

Dancing to Evolution's Tune

The author discusses natural evolutionary design and the factors behind its success. The drive to feed oneself and appease hunger, and the very strong urge for finding a mate are qualities that are commonly shared by the innumerable species that exist in our world. The delicately balanced neurobiological machinery in man guides and governs all his instinctive behaviors. The essence of all human activities, the purpose of all human endeavors, is to satisfy the eternal quest for happiness. But the search for eternal happiness has been a will-o'-the-wisp. At the root of all this are the genes, the fundamental units of life which control the neurochemistry. The author elucidates the important role of motivation in evolution and how the genes are self programmed to achieve this.

Nature has used happiness as a bait to motivate living beings and to propel them into action. Happiness is thus a reward that man receives when he carries on the duties of maintaining his bodily functions- nourishing himself, procreating and extending his heritage. The genes control the neurochemistry behind the feelings of happiness. On cogitation it is revealed that our basic impulses are meant to serve the main purpose of gene proliferation rather than for our psychological well being as it appears at the outset. Over the last decade scientists have found out the significant role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in giving the feeling of happiness and satisfaction. [Bruno Dubuc] Experiments conducted on mice have confirmed that sustained stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain makes them forget even the basic need for food. Selective neurons in our brain secrete this neurotransmitter (dopamine) as a reward for our indulgence in certain actions. Thus we are entangled in a vicious cycle of desire, action and satisfaction and develop addictive behaviors. These actions or reward seeking behaviors (eating, sex etc.) facilitate the proliferation of the genes. (Eating maintains the body while sex results in progeny).

However, there is a hidden secret behind this gene-based neurochemical and neurobiological interplay which has continued to drive all living species into actions conducive to their own sustenance, reproduction and the well being of their progeny. Since the want for pleasure, or the search for happiness, is the key factor in the sustenance of evolution and natural propagation, nature designed it in such a way that these wants are never fully satiated. This is one of the key points of the article, which the author emphasizes as the secret behind nature's success. If man derived perennial pleasure from any of his activities such as eating, drinking or copulation it would amount to a grinding halt on the evolutionary process, as there would be no further inclination to act.

As indicated by the author, a drug dealer would stand to loose if users achieved a permanent high. The genes that are responsible for giving the feelings of happiness are so designed to limit the pleasurable experience to be of a short-lived nature. Therefore, happiness derived from actions is never of a permanent nature and consequently the feelings of satisfaction are also temporary. The transient nature of the pleasure implies that man would endeavor to achieve it again and again. (as in sex). Also happiness is not only limited to food and copulation. Things such as the well-being of our children, our own social esteem, are also factors that bring happiness.

To quote from the Ecclestiases "All human toil is for the mouth, and yet the appetite is not satisfied." In this scheme of things designed by nature, people are continuously attracted by a plethora of things and propelled into action, which they feel would give them that ultimate happiness. But, all through their existence, people don't realize the futility of their quest for never ending happiness. After all, their genes were not designed to yield them that elusive eternal happiness. Once we understand the science behind evolution and the role that our genes play in it, it would throw better light into our own existence and a better understanding of our own behaviors (addictive personalities and addictive behaviors).