Final answer:
The inherited traits of a population change over time through processes like natural selection, as certain traits become more common due to their advantage in survival and reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inherited traits of a population change over time through processes like natural selection. Natural selection occurs when certain inherited traits give individuals an advantage in survival and reproduction, leading to those traits becoming more common in the population over time.
For example, if a population of birds has inherited traits that allow them to gather food more efficiently, those birds will have better chances of survival and passing on their traits to the next generation.
Over time, this can result in changes in the genetic makeup of the population as certain traits become more or less prevalent. Genetic variation is essential for these changes to occur, and it can be introduced through mechanisms like mutations or new individuals joining the population through migration.
Overall, the inherited traits of a population can change over time through natural selection and other genetic mechanisms, leading to the evolution of new traits and species.