In Darwinian terms, what does 'fitness' refer to?

• A. Carry heavy load
• B. Photosynthesize
• C. Survive and reproduce
• D. Resist all pathogens

Answer: (C)

Fitness in Darwinian terms is about reproductive success—the likelihood that an individual will survive to reproductive age and leave descendants who carry its genes. It’s not simply being strong or having a particular skill; it’s about contributing more offspring to the next generation relative to others in the population. That’s why the statement that focuses on surviving and reproducing best captures the concept: survival matters, but primarily as a means to produce more offspring who can continue the lineage. The other ideas describe useful abilities, but they don’t define fitness as the measure of genetic contribution to future generations, and fitness is context-dependent, changing with the environment and population.