Textbook Question
True or false? Some traits are considered vestigial because they existed long ago.
Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 22, Problem 4
How can evolutionary fitness be measured? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F Document how long individuals survive.
T/F Count the number of healthy, fertile offspring produced.
T/F Determine which individuals are strongest.
T/F Determine which phenotype is the most common.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of evolutionary fitness: It refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. Fitness is often measured by the number of offspring an individual produces that survive to reproduce themselves.
Evaluate the statement 'Document how long individuals survive': Survival alone does not directly measure evolutionary fitness unless it contributes to reproduction. Consider whether longevity leads to more offspring.
Evaluate the statement 'Count the number of healthy, fertile offspring produced': This directly measures evolutionary fitness, as it reflects the individual's contribution to the next generation.
Evaluate the statement 'Determine which individuals are strongest': Physical strength may contribute to survival and reproduction, but it is not a direct measure of evolutionary fitness unless it results in more offspring.
Evaluate the statement 'Determine which phenotype is the most common': Common phenotypes may indicate successful traits, but evolutionary fitness is specifically measured by reproductive success, not just prevalence.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Evolutionary Fitness
Evolutionary fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. It is measured by the number of offspring an individual produces that survive to reproduce themselves, thus passing on their genes to the next generation. Fitness is not solely about physical strength but rather the overall reproductive success.
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History of Evolutionary Theory Example 1
Survival and Reproduction
Survival and reproduction are key components of evolutionary fitness. While survival is important, the ultimate measure of fitness is the ability to produce viable offspring. An individual that lives longer but does not reproduce does not contribute to the gene pool, thus having lower evolutionary fitness compared to one that reproduces successfully.
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03:12Fungi Reproduction - 3
Phenotype Frequency
Phenotype frequency refers to how common a particular trait or characteristic is within a population. While a common phenotype might suggest adaptation to the environment, it does not directly measure fitness. Fitness is more accurately assessed by reproductive success rather than the prevalence of a phenotype, as common traits may not always confer reproductive advantages.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Why does the presence of extinct forms and transitional features in the fossil record support the pattern component of the theory of evolution by natural selection? Select True or False for each statement.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that individuals change over time.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that weaker species are eliminated by natural selection.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that species evolve to become more complex and better adapted over time.
T/F It supports the hypothesis that species change over time.
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Textbook Question
Traits that are derived from a common ancestor, like the bones of human arms and bird wings, are said to be .
Textbook Question
According to data presented in this chapter, which of the following are correct? Select True or False for each statement. T/F When individuals change in response to challenges from the environment, their altered traits are passed on to offspring. T/F Species are created independently of each other and do not change over time. T/F Populations—not individuals—change when natural selection occurs. T/F The traits of populations become more perfect over time.
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Textbook Question
Some biologists summarize evolution by natural selection with the phrase "mutation proposes, selection disposes." Mutation is a process that creates heritable variation. Explain what the phrase means.
Textbook Question
Why don't the biggest and strongest individuals in a population always produce the most offspring?
a. The biggest and strongest individuals always have higher fitness.
b. In some environments, being big and strong lowers fitness.
c. Sometimes the biggest and strongest individuals may choose to have fewer offspring.
d. Sometimes the number of offspring is not related to fitness.