Fitness: Difference between revisions
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See this discussion of [https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/accumulating-glitches/the_meaning_of_fitness/ the meaning of fitness] in biology compared to everyday usage, published by biologist Sedeer el-Showk in ''Nature''’s Scitable blogs. Quote: <blockquote> | See this discussion of [https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/accumulating-glitches/the_meaning_of_fitness/ the meaning of fitness] in biology compared to everyday usage, published by biologist Sedeer el-Showk in ''Nature''’s Scitable blogs. Quote: <blockquote> | ||
''Thanks to the phrase “survival of the fittest”, fitness is quite a prominent idea in the popular perception of evolution. The description was originally coined by Herbert Spencer after he read ''On the Origin of Species;'' Darwin adopted it in later editions and it’s been popular ever since. Unfortunately, this glib phrase often eclipses a more accurate depiction of evolution, leading to some common misunderstandings. This confusion arises because “fitness” has a different meaning in evolutionary biology than it does in general usage.''</blockquote> | ''Thanks to the phrase “survival of the fittest”, fitness is quite a prominent idea in the popular perception of evolution. The description was originally coined by Herbert Spencer after he read ''On the Origin of Species;'' Darwin adopted it in later editions and it’s been popular ever since. Unfortunately, this glib phrase often eclipses a more accurate depiction of evolution, leading to some common misunderstandings. This confusion arises because “fitness” has a different meaning in evolutionary biology than it does in general usage.''<br> {{3dots}}</blockquote> | ||
<blockquote>''Organisms (or genes or replicators) don’t survive because they are fit; rather, they are considered fit because they survived.''</blockquote> | |||
See also [[Natural Selection]]. | See also [[Natural Selection]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 11:48, 19 May 2021
See this discussion of the meaning of fitness in biology compared to everyday usage, published by biologist Sedeer el-Showk in Nature’s Scitable blogs. Quote:
Thanks to the phrase “survival of the fittest”, fitness is quite a prominent idea in the popular perception of evolution. The description was originally coined by Herbert Spencer after he read On the Origin of Species; Darwin adopted it in later editions and it’s been popular ever since. Unfortunately, this glib phrase often eclipses a more accurate depiction of evolution, leading to some common misunderstandings. This confusion arises because “fitness” has a different meaning in evolutionary biology than it does in general usage.
. . .
Organisms (or genes or replicators) don’t survive because they are fit; rather, they are considered fit because they survived.
See also Natural Selection.
