Final answer:
Advantageous traits are not necessary for evolution; what is essential is variation in genes, the inheritability of genetic traits, and genetic information, whether or not it is stored on chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
For evolution to function, one characteristic of genes that is not necessary is that 'genes result in traits that provide advantages.' While advantageous traits can increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction, they are not a requisite for evolution to occur. The other three characteristics listed are essential for evolution.
Variation in genes within a population is crucial because without it, natural selection cannot operate. Genetic differences among individuals allow some to have better survival or reproductive success under particular environmental conditions.
It's also essential that genetic traits are inheritable across generations. If traits were not passed down to offspring, then advantageous traits would not be able to accumulate over time in a population.
Lastly, knowing that genetic information is stored on chromosomes explains the mechanism of inheritance but is not a necessary condition for evolution to function. Mendel's laws of genetics and our understanding of DNA have provided insight into how traits are inherited, but evolution is more broadly about changes in allele frequency over time, regardless of where those genes are stored.