Biological fitness

Biological fitness, also known as Darwinian fitness or reproductive fitness, is a central concept in evolutionary biology. It refers to the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its environment. The term is derived from the evolutionary theory of Charles Darwin, who proposed that those individuals with traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation.

Definition

Biological fitness is defined as the reproductive success of an individual relative to other members of a population. It is measured by the contribution an individual makes to the gene pool of the next generation compared to the contributions of other individuals. The concept of biological fitness is central to the theory of natural selection.

Components of Fitness

Biological fitness is composed of two key components: survival and reproduction. Survival fitness refers to an individual's ability to reach reproductive age, while reproductive fitness refers to an individual's success in producing offspring. Both components are influenced by an individual's genotype and phenotype, as well as the environment in which the individual lives.

Fitness and Adaptation

Biological fitness is closely related to the concept of adaptation. An adaptation is a trait that increases an individual's fitness in a specific environment. Over time, adaptations that increase fitness become more common in a population through the process of natural selection.

Fitness and Genetic Variation

Biological fitness is also linked to genetic variation. Genetic variation within a population can lead to differences in fitness among individuals. Those with genetic variations that increase their fitness are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to an increase in the frequency of those variations in the population over time.

See Also

• Natural selection
• Adaptation
• Genetic variation
• Evolutionary biology
• Charles Darwin