The Extended Phenotype (book)

"The Extended Phenotype" by Richard Dawkins explores how an organism's influence extends beyond its physical body, affecting its environment and other living things. For example, a beaver’s dam or a spider’s web are shaped by the animal’s genes and serve its survival interests. Dawkins argues that natural selection acts not only on individual organisms but also on these extended structures, which can impact evolutionary outcomes. The book broadens our understanding of how genes shape behavior and environmental modifications, emphasizing that an organism’s influence can be considered an extension of its genetic expression.