Unit 2.2b

Question 1

Definition of fitness

Answer 1

An indication of an individuals ability to be successful at surviving and reproducing

Question 2

What are the two types of fitness?

Answer 2

Absolute and relative

Question 3

What is absolute fitness?

Answer 3

It’s the ratio between the frequency of individuals of a particular genotype after selection, and those before.

Question 4

What is the absolute fitness equation?

Answer 4

A.F. = frequency of particular genotype after selection / frequency of particular genotype before selection

Question 5

What is relative fitness?

Answer 5

It’s the ratio of the number of surviving offspring per individual of a particular genotype, and the number of surviving offspring per individual of the most successful genotype

Question 6

What is the relative fitness equation?

Answer 6

R.F. = number of surviving offspring per individual of a particular genotype / number of surviving offspring per individual of the most successful genotype

Question 7

What is fitness a measure of?

Answer 7

The tendency of some organisms producing more surviving offspring than competing

Question 8

What does fitness refer to?

Answer 8

The contribution made to the gene pool of the next generation by individual genotypes