FITNESS

Fitness

Fitness is a central idea in evolutionary theory. It can be defined either with respect to a genotype or to a phenotype in a given environment. In either case, it describes the ability to both survive and reproduce, and is equal to the average contribution to the gene pool of the next generation that is made by an average individual of the specified genotype or phenotype. If differences between alleles of a given gene affect fitness, then the frequencies of the alleles will change over generations; the alleles with higher fitness become more common. This process is called natural selection.

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fitness

Noun

  1. The condition of being fit, suitable or appropriate.
  2. The cultivation of an attractive and/or healthy physique.
  3. The condition of being attractive, fanciable or beautiful.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: fitness
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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