How does natural selection affect undesirable traits?

Question

William Albracht · Accepted Answer

Natural selection is an aspect of Darwin's theory of Evolution which dictates that traits more favorable for survival in a particular habitat will become predominant over less favorable traits in a gene pool over long periods of time.

A gene pool is the collection of genes possible for an species to acquire in a region through sexual breeding.

Natural selection will eventually wipe off an undesirable trait off the gene pool because organisms with a more favorable trait will breed more, and generate more offspring, whereas an organism without this trait would be at a disadvantage, and would die off.

Below is an example that fits for any given trait.

Nicholas Ahn · Answer

undefined Natural selection acts on undesirable traits by gradually reducing their frequency within a population over generations. Undesirable traits decrease an organism's chances of survival and reproduction, leading to fewer offspring carrying those traits. As individuals with more favorable traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes, the frequency of undesirable traits diminishes in the population over time.

Emma Arvizu · Answer

undefined Natural selection acts on the fitness of individuals within a population, favoring traits that confer reproductive advantages and enabling individuals with those traits to leave more offspring. Undesirable traits, those that decrease an organism's fitness, are typically selected against over time. This occurs because individuals possessing these traits are less likely to survive and reproduce, leading to a decrease in the frequency of these traits within the population over successive generations. Natural selection thus acts as a mechanism for filtering out undesirable traits from populations, ultimately leading to the prevalence of traits that enhance an organism's survival and reproductive success.