Question:

"Survival of the Fittest" is associated with which of the following?

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Survival of the Fittest = Natural Selection.
Biological fitness is measured strictly by differential reproductive success (number of fertile offspring contributed to the next generation).
Updated On: Sep 4, 2026
  • Gene flow
  • Mutation
  • Natural selection
  • Genetic drift
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Concept:
"Survival of the Fittest" is a cornerstone phrase in the study of evolutionary biology and anthropology.
It describes the differential survival and reproductive success of organisms best adapted to their ecological niche.
This question tests the association between this famous evolutionary concept and its corresponding mechanism.

Step 1: Historical Origin of the Concept:

The phrase was originally coined by English philosopher Herbert Spencer in his work Principles of Biology (1864) after reading Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.
Darwin subsequently incorporated the phrase into the fifth edition of his work as an expressive synonym for Natural Selection.

Step 2: Anthropological and Biological Meaning:

In evolutionary theory, "fitness" (Darwinian fitness) refers not merely to physical strength, but to relative reproductive success.
Organisms possessing advantageous phenotypic variations suited to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and transmit their genes to the gene pool of the next generation.
In contrast, gene flow refers to migration, mutation is genetic novelty, and genetic drift is random allele fluctuation.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The phrase "Survival of the Fittest" is directly associated with the process of Natural Selection.
Hence, Option (C) is the correct answer.
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