Understanding the Concept of Fitness in Biology

Survival of the Fittest: A Lion King's Tale

Perhaps you have seen the movie The Lion King. Two brother lions were at the center of the plot, Scar and Mufasa. Scar was weak, thin, and rather lanky. Mufasa, on the other hand, was strong, muscular, and had a very dominant presence. Because Mufasa had the qualities and traits that would help him survive and reproduce at a higher rate than his brother, biologists would say that he had a higher level of fitness.

Question:

What does it mean when biologists say Mufasa had a higher level of fitness?

Answer:

Biologists would say that he had a higher level of fitness.

Explanation:

The term fitness can be used in biology to designate an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, passing on its genes to subsequent generations. Stronger, sturdier lions are more likely to survive and reproduce, so Mufasa had the qualities and traits that would help him survive and reproduce at a higher rate than his brother Scar. For this reason, biologists would say that he had a higher level of fitness.