Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Survival of the fittest refers to the idea that in a population, individuals with traits that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those advantageous traits to future generations.
Natural selection: This term describes the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time based on their adaptive value.
Refers to any characteristic or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce successfully in its environment.
Fitness: In evolutionary terms, fitness is a measure of an individual's ability to contribute genes to future generations. It encompasses both survival and reproductive success.