Problem 13 - Biology Concepts and Applications

Question

A female lion who shares food with her sister's offspring increases her own ______________ a. domin b. reproductive success c. sexual dimorphism d. inclusive fitness

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

d. inclusive fitness

Step 1: Understand the Context

The exercise asks about the advantage a female lion gains by sharing food with her sister's offspring. This relates to evolutionary biology concepts.

Step 2: Define Key Concept - Inclusive Fitness

Inclusive fitness refers to an organism's genetic success and is calculated by considering the individual's own offspring and the support given to relatives to increase their reproductive success, because these relatives share common genes.

Step 3: Narrow Down the Options

Options include domin, reproductive success, sexual dimorphism, and inclusive fitness. Domin is not a relevant concept here, reproductive success is individual-centered, and sexual dimorphism refers to differences between sexes.

Step 4: Match the Definition with Option

Given the context, a female lion sharing food with her sister's offspring increases the shared genetic success of the family, fitting the definition of inclusive fitness.

Key Concepts

Evolutionary Biology

Evolutionary biology is a scientific discipline that looks into the processes which have produced the diversity of life on Earth. It seeks to understand how organisms change over time through adaptation and variation in their genetic makeup.

Key aspects of evolutionary biology include natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation, each playing a significant role in shaping species. Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

• Genetic drift is about random changes in gene frequencies, especially in small populations.
• Mutations introduce new genetic variation to populations, which can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful.

This science helps us uncover patterns of ancestry and relationships among species, providing insights into how the complexities of life evolved into what we see today. The concept is crucial to understanding why certain traits develop and persist, like a female lion prioritizing the care and survival of her sister's offspring to boost her own genetic impact on future generations.

Genetic Success

Genetic success refers to an individual's ability to pass on its genes to the next generation. This concept doesn’t just mean having lots of offspring; it involves ensuring that these offspring can continue to reproduce. This effectiveness in gene propagation can be influenced by various strategies.

One important strategy is inclusive fitness, where an organism's own offspring are not the only focus. An organism can also help relatives raise their young, ensuring the shared genes have a better chance of being passed on.

In evolutionary terms, genetic success is not just quantity but also the quality of descendants. Key factors influencing genetic success include:

• Reproductive rate: how quickly or often an organism can reproduce.
• Survival rate of offspring: whether the offspring are healthy and capable of reaching reproductive age.
• Resource availability: whether there are enough resources, such as food, to support family and relatives.

These factors collectively ensure the long-term continuity of certain genetic traits within a population.

Kin Selection

Kin selection is an evolutionary strategy that favors the reproductive success of an organism's relatives, even at a cost to the individual's own survival and reproduction. This concept is rooted in the idea that individuals share a significant portion of their genes with close relatives.

This means helping a relative can indirectly ensure the propagation of genes shared by both the helper and the relative. For example, a female lion helping her sister’s cubs is increasing the chances of shared genetic material being successfully passed on to the next generation.

• Kin selection explains altruistic behavior often seen in social species, where individuals might self-sacrifice for the benefit of their kin.
• It influences social structures, causing related individuals to stay close or form tight-knit groups.
• Inclusive fitness is a direct result of kin selection, where an organism’s genetic success is measured by the continuation of its genes through relatives.

Kin selection offers an explanation for many social behaviors and structures observed in the animal kingdom, showing how interconnectedness through genetics can shape survival strategies.