In this short clip Professor Richard Dawkins discusses how he arrived at the idea of the "selfish gene" -- the basis of his seminal 1976 publication.

Dawkins explains how the genes that are around today -- in us and every other living organism -- come from an unbroken line of successful ancestors. Describing the body as a "survival machine" for the self-replicating information it contains, he explains how the genes that are good at making these bodies can therefore persist through countless generations, meaning successful genes are potentially immortal. It was this inspiring vision, along with the work of W. D. Hamilton, which motivated his research in this field.

To hear more about Dawkins' life and the events and experiences which shaped his thinking, watch the full event 'An Appetite for Wonder', complete with audience Q&A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omsUZ3u5TX4

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