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.