Which of the following statements about fitness and natural selection is true?
A) The fitness of individuals of a particular phenotype is a function of the probability that such individuals survive, divided by the average number of offspring they produce.
B) The fitness of individuals of a particular phenotype is a function of the probability that such individuals survive, multiplied by the average number of offspring they produce.
C) Changes in the absolute numbers of offspring necessarily lead to changes in allele frequencies from one generation to the next.
D) Both a and b
E) Both b and c

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement that best reflects the relationship between fitness and natural selection is B. Fitness is a measurement of the individual's ability to contribute offspring to the next generation, and it is determined by both survival and reproduction, both of which impact the number of offspring produced. Therefore, the fitness of individuals of a particular phenotype is the probability that they will survive and reproduce, multiplied by the average number of offspring they produce. This means that selection acts upon these traits, determining which are most advantageous for ensuring reproductive success.

Which of the Following Statements About Fitness and Natural Selection