The formal definition of "fitness" in evolutionary biology

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fitness in evolutionary biology is defined as the relative reproductive success of an individual or a population compared to others. It is a measure of how well an organism is adapted to its environment in terms of survival and reproduction. The more successful an individual is at passing on its genes to the next generation, the higher its fitness. Therefore, choice A, "pertains to relative reproductive success," is the correct answer. Option B is partially correct in that fitness implies something is well-matched or fit, but it is not a formal definition of the term. Therefore, choice C, "Both of the above," is not entirely correct, and choice D, "None of the above," is incorrect.

The Formal Definition of "Fitness" in Evolutionary Biology