Memetics is the study of how ideas, behaviors, and cultural phenomena spread and evolve, similar to the way genes transmit biological traits. The term was coined by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book, The Selfish Gene, where he introduced the concept of "memes" as units of cultural information that replicate and mutate through social interaction. Memes can include anything from phrases and fashion trends to rituals and beliefs. They are transmitted through communication and can change over time as they are shared and adapted by different individuals and communities, influencing culture and society in the process.