Scientists and philosophers can be expected to explore this difference and argue about its implications for generations to come. I find that this whole concept of memes as a separate life form, dependent on my species for its existence, is thoroughly compatible with Progressive Humanism. The Progressive Humanist rejects the old religions on the grounds that their validity can only be postulated, not demonstrated. But everyone has to accept something on faith, everyone has to have a basic belief or two as anchor points to build out from. I accept as a matter of faith that there is something special about my species, and that humanity, all of it, is what I am here for and what life is all about.
Humanity is the home team.
This causes me relatively little cognitive dissonance in terms of what I know about the world around me that has been scientifically tested and validated. But any theory that supports my decision that humanity is special, and appears either to grow out of scientifically validated experience, or is likely to be so validated soon, lessens my discomfort at having to accept humanity on faith. I have already thought of several respectable reasons why humanity is special, and now I have another one. Maybe I will see it validated in my lifetime. This era of information explosion is bound to have an exhilarating effect on meme production, so it wouldn't surprise me.