A few of these characteristics are favourable and are called as beneficial mutations which provide a better survival benefit to changing surroundings. Evolution of a new class of species altogether occurs when a permanent change takes place in the phenotype of an entity as a result of natural selection and competition when an environment continues to stay for longer durations incorporating better-adapted entities.
Gene mutations cause the evolution we observe. It causes a change either in the organization or amount of genetic material in a cell. Such a mutation if occurred in a gamete can be easily inherited by the emerging gamete. New alleles of genes are produced as a result of mutations and hence the variations between entities. Therefore, genes and genetic mutations play a significant role in the process of evolution.