What does survival of the fittest mean? Charles Darwin's natural selection theory explored on National Darwin Day

The Royal Botanic Gardens At Kew Celebrate Their 250th Anniversary - Source: Getty
The Royal Botanic Gardens At Kew Celebrate Their 250th Anniversary - Source: Getty

The phrase "survival of the fittest" functions principally in evolutionary theory to describe the biological concept of natural selection. English naturalist, geologist, and biologist Charles Darwin employed the term to show how successfully adapted organisms achieve better survival rates through reproduction with trait inheritance to their offspring.

Darwin did not coin the phrase, although it is exclusively linked to his theory of natural selection. On this National Darwin Day, February 12, let's go through his famous theory about the survival of the fittest and how it is related to natural selection.


Definition and origin of "survival of the fittest"

Natural selection describes a biological mechanism that allows organisms to adapt best to their environment effectively. The theory of natural selection outlined by Charles Darwin provides the evolutionary basis from which this phrase originated.

This scientific model demonstrates how nature chooses which organisms survive based on their characteristics.

Herbert Spencer introduced "survival of the fittest" in 1864 through Principles of Biology when Darwin was working on his On the Origin of Species.

In 1869, Darwin applied the phrase for introducing the fifth variant of On the Origin of Species before defining it as a system for creating organisms that suit their immediate environmental needs.


Natural selection and adaptation

Darwin's theory of natural selection relies on a couple of basic principles:

Natural Variation: Organisms within a population have a set of features.

Heritability: They are inherited by the offspring.

Competition: Organisms compete to obtain restricted fundamental resources, which include food, shelter, and mating opportunities.

Adaptation: Natural environmental selection causes the development of organism traits through which they achieve better adaptation for successful survival and reproduction in their habitat.

An organism that develops traits that help to best adapt toward its environment will gain a stronger chance of reproduction and survival. On this principle, the fittest organisms succeed because they have adapted to the environment rather than possessing superior strength or speed capabilities.

Different types of adaptations include physical traits, behavioral patterns, and biological procedures that boost survival opportunities alongside reproduction capabilities.


Examples of survival of the fittest

Nature provides many documented instances of survival of the fittest. Examples are:

Peppered moths underwent color adaptation from light to dark since their survival depended on blending with soot-covered tree bark during the Industrial Revolution in England.

Deer mice evolved from dark brown to light brown colors to blend with Nebraska sandhill sand surfaces and stay hidden from predators.

When bacteria encounter antibiotics, they develop resistance to such medications, resulting in better survival rates in environments using antibiotics.


Socio-economic interpretations

In socio-economic situations, people have applied the phrase "survival of the fittest." This context defines success as belonging to strong people because they properly apply their strengths.

This philosophy is opposed to government assistance, which holds that it can thwart individual growth and independence. This application of the term is debatable and can be regarded as a justification for social inequality.


Caveats and criticisms

It should be recognized that "survival of the fittest" does not always mean direct competition among individuals. In some instances, survival depends on the capability to adapt to extreme changes in the environment.

Also, the suggestion that only the "fittest" survive is misleading. Unexpected causes, such as natural disasters, can also be the determining factor for which organisms survive.

The concept is also misapplied as suggesting that evolution always leads to progress or improvement, which is not always true.

Edited by Debanjana
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