What is life supposed to be about?

@newjaninev2 that makes sense except what does that mean for others? Who don’t have kids

@Mindful It means their particular genetic set won’t be replicated. The genes don’t care... [i]siblings or close relatives such as cousins get the job done nearly as well.[/i]

My daughter is an escape pod for my genes. Equally, I was an escape pod for my parents’ genes. All that matters is that the genes replicate once again. Both you and I are the current incarnations of a 13.5 billion year-long chain of successful replication (actually, in my case my daughter is the latest version)

@newjaninev2 crazy, right!?!?

@Mindful Actually, it’s rather cool that we’re here because [i]every single one of our ancestors[/i] managed to successfully replicate in an unbroken chain for 13.5 billion years

If I ever need to feel special, that does it for me! 😀

@newjaninev2 awwwwww, thank you!that did make me feel special

@Mindful There’s more! 😀

Because of our 13.5 billion year evolutionary history, we share genes with every living organism on Earth (and with every organism that has ever lived).

A stunning web of interconnectedness with all of life on the planet.

I'm currently preparing my dinner (it’s Sunday evening here) and I’m cutting up a capsicum (I think Americans call it a bell pepper). The capsicum and I share many genes. The rice I will eat with it shares many genes with me, as do the beans and the spinach.

I just hope that sharing my genes also makes the capsicum feel special! 😂