<span>Beneficial traits are inherited traits (they may be phyical, biochemical, or behavioral) which increase an organism's fitness. Fitness is the technical term in biology for an organism's ability to reproduce itself, compared to other organisms. A beneficial trait, then, may either (1) increase the number of times which an organism reproduces, (2) increase the number of offspring which an organism has per reproductive act, or (3) increase the fitness of individual offspring. These three are not, of course, mutually exclusive. </span>
That are beneficial traits you ask? <span>Beneficial traits are inherited traits (they may be phyical, biochemical, or behavioral) which increase an organism's fitness. Fitness is the technical term in biology for an organism's ability to reproduce itself, compared to other organisms. A beneficial trait, then, may either (1) increase the number of times which an organism reproduces, (2) increase the number of offspring which an organism has per reproductive act, or (3) increase the fitness of individual offspring. These three are not, of course, mutually exclusive.
It should be noted that no trait is intrinsically beneficial; the benefit of a trait can only be determined by first looking at (1) the other traits which an organism has and how they might react with the trait under discussion, (2) the other organisms in the environment, and (3) the other non-living aspects of an organism's environment.
Thus, having one copy of the sickle cell anemia gene from each parent gives you a deadly disease, which is NOT beneficial; however, having a copy of this gene from just one parent provides increased resistance to malaria. In most parts of the US, this is not useful at all; in many parts of southern India and Africa, however, it is extremely useful. Thus, a trait can only be called beneficial or not with regard to its context.</span>
