Question

What causes genetic variation to be preserved or eliminated and how does that effect evolution

Answer 1

Natural selection and other evolutionary forces preserve or eliminate genetic variation, which affects the evolution of a species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Natural selection and other evolutionary forces play a role in preserving or eliminating genetic variation. Natural selection favors individuals with beneficial traits, allowing them to survive and reproduce, which preserves those traits in future generations. Harmful traits are eliminated through natural selection, as individuals with those traits are less likely to survive and reproduce. Other evolutionary forces, such as genetic drift and gene flow, can also contribute to the preservation or elimination of genetic variation. These forces can introduce new genetic variants or remove existing ones from a population, affecting the overall genetic diversity within a species.

Answer 2

Mutation. Mutations are changes to an organism's DNA and are an important driver of diversity in populations. Species evolve because of the accumulation of mutations that occur over time. ... Some mutations are unfavorable or harmful and are quickly eliminated from the population by natural selection.