How does natural selection relate to genetics?

Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution that directly relates to genetics through the promotion of advantageous traits in a population. This process occurs when individuals with certain heritable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce in a given environment compared to those without those traits. Over generations, these advantageous traits become more common within the population, leading to an adaptation of the population to its environment.

For instance, if a particular gene variation confers a better ability to find food or evade predators, individuals possessing that trait will tend to reproduce more successfully, passing on their genes to the next generation. As a result, these advantageous traits are amplified within the genetic makeup of the population over time. This process not only shapes the genetic landscape but also enhances the overall fitness of the species in adapting to changing environments.

The other options do not align with the principle of natural selection. For example, while genetic diversity is influenced by natural selection, the process does not inherently decrease it; rather, it can either maintain or increase diversity depending on the traits that confer advantages. Additionally, natural selection does not eliminate all mutations but rather acts on them, favoring those that enhance survival. Lastly, natural selection is distinct from genetic drift, which is a different evolutionary mechanism that can randomly alter allele