Photo: Ivan Samkov

Do the fittest always survive?

Someone not familiar with what natural selection really is might take "fittest" to mean the best physical specimen of the species and that only those in the best shape and best health will survive in nature. That isn't always the case. Individuals that survive aren't always the strongest, fastest, or smartest.

thoughtco.com - Survival of the Fittest vs. Natural Selection - ThoughtCo

Where should I go if nuclear war happens?

DO: Find a brick or concrete building, such as a school or office. FEMA identifies brick or concrete buildings as the safest forms of shelter after...

Last updated Nov 18, 2019

Is it OK to leave bullets in a magazine?

When using quality magazines with quality ammunition, stored and maintained properly, you can leave them loaded as long as you want to without any...

Last updated Mar 17, 2020

Promotion

When Charles Darwin was coming up with the Theory of Evolution, he had to find a mechanism that drove evolution. Many other scientists, such as Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, had already described the change in species over time, but they didn't offer explanations as to how it occurred. Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace independently came up with the idea of natural selection to fill that void.

Natural Selection vs. 'Survival of the Fittest'

Natural selection is the idea that species that acquire adaptations favorable for their environment will pass those adaptations to their offspring. Eventually, only individuals with those favorable adaptations will survive, which is how the species changes over time or evolves through speciation. In the 1800s, after Darwin first published his book "On the Origin of Species," British economist Herbert Spencer used the term "survival of the fittest" in relation to Darwin's idea of natural selection as he compared Darwin's theory to an economic principle in one of his books. This interpretation of natural selection caught on, and Darwin used the phrase in a later edition of "On the Origin of Species." Darwin used the term as it was meant regarding natural selection. Nowadays, however, the term is often misunderstood when used in place of natural selection.

Public Misconception of 'Fittest'

Members of the public might be able to describe natural selection as survival of the fittest. Pressed for further explanation of the term, however, most answer incorrectly. Someone not familiar with what natural selection really is might take "fittest" to mean the best physical specimen of the species and that only those in the best shape and best health will survive in nature. That isn't always the case. Individuals that survive aren't always the strongest, fastest, or smartest. By that definition, then, survival of the fittest might not be the best way to describe natural selection as it applies to evolution. Darwin didn't mean it in those terms when he used it in his republished book. He intended "fittest" to mean the members of the species best suited for the immediate environment, the basis of the idea of natural selection.

Favorable and Unfavorable Traits

Since an individual needs the most favorable traits to survive in the environment, it follows that individuals with favorable adaptations will live long enough to pass their genes to their offspring. Those lacking the favorable traits—the "unfit"—most likely won't live long enough to pass down their unfavorable traits, and eventually, those traits will be bred out of the population. The unfavorable traits might take many generations to decline in numbers and longer to disappear from the gene pool. This is evident in humans with the genes of fatal diseases; their genes are still in the gene pool even though conditions are unfavorable for their survival.

Remedying the Misunderstanding

Now that this idea is stuck in our lexicon, there isn't much that can be done to help others understand the actual meaning of the phrase beyond explaining the intended definition of the word "fittest" and the context in which it was said. An alternative could be to avoid using the phrase altogether when discussing the Theory of Evolution or natural selection. It's acceptable for a person to use the term "survival of the fittest" if he or she understands the scientific definition. However, casual use of the phrase by someone without knowledge of natural selection can be misleading. Students who are first learning about evolution and natural selection should avoid using the term until they have a deeper knowledge of the subject.

Is there a filter that makes ocean water drinkable?

MIT researchers have created a portable desalination unit that can automatically remove particles and salts simultaneously to generate drinking...

Last updated May 29, 2019

What animal can we not live without?

Ants. Over 12,000 species of ants have been scientifically identified and they are abundant in most ecosystems. ... Termites. Though they destroy...

Last updated Jan 26, 2019

Promotion

What food makes you live longest?

The 10 Best Foods for Longevity Cruciferous Vegetables. These are vegetable powerhouses with the unique ability to modify human hormones, activate the body's natural detoxification system and inhibit the growth of cancerous cells. ... Salad Greens. ... Nuts. ... Seeds. ... Berries. ... Pomegranate. ... Beans. ... Mushrooms. More items...

denverhealthmedicalplan.org - The 10 Best Foods for Longevity | Denver Health Medical Plan

Raw, leafy green vegetables – some are cruciferous –contain less than 100 calories per pound, making them an ideal food for weight control. In scientific studies, women who ate a large salad at the beginning of a meal ate fewer calories from the rest of the meal, and larger salads reduced calories more than smaller ones. In addition to keeping weight down, greater intake of salads, leafy greens or raw vegetables is associated with reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. Leafy greens are also rich in the essential B-vitamin folate plus lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that protect the eyes from light damage. Try kale, collard greens, mustard greens, spinach or lettuce. To maximize the health benefits of leafy greens, you must maximize your absorption of their fat-soluble phytochemicals, carotenoids in particular, and that requires fats – which is why your salad (or dressing) should always contain nuts and/or seeds.

What gender is more mature?

Scientists at Newcastle University in the U.K. have discovered that girls tend to optimize brain connections earlier than boys. The researchers...

Last updated Mar 23, 2022

What animal is Goomba?

Goombas /ˈɡuːmbə/, known in Japan as Kuribō, are a fictional mushroom-like species from Nintendo's Mario franchise. They first appeared in the NES...

Last updated Jan 12, 2021

Promotion

Which is faster PlayStation or Xbox?

Processing and graphics hardware The Xbox Series X is "four times more powerful than Xbox One X". It sports a custom Zen 2 eight-core processor...

Last updated Jun 25, 2022

Promotion

What happens if you drink nothing but soda?

If you drink only soda as your beverage of choice, you may be at risk for weight gain. Consuming an extra 3,500 calories leads to 1 pound of weight...

Last updated Jan 13, 2020