Question

What are the different ways in which individuals with a particular trait may increase in a population?

Answer 1

Hint: The different ways in which individuals with a particular trait may increase in a population are –
1. Natural selection
2. Genetic drift
3. Mutation
4. Geographic isolation
5. Sudden decrease or increase in the availability of food source or amount.
We may study the above-noted points in brief.

Complete answer:
An individual trait may increase in a population in the following ways –
1. Natural Selection: If a trait is useful to the population, it will increase naturally. It may directly lead to the evolution of species populations by adaptations to fit their environment better. That particular trait may thus increase in the population.
2. Genetic drift: If a population faces an accident such that the majority of its members get killed, the remaining members will pass on their traits to the subsequent generations. This leads to an increase of the trait in the population. This is the notion of genetic drift, which provides diversity without any adaptation.
3. Geographic isolation: Where a population of species gets separated by their respective group due to physical/natural barriers.
4. Mutation: Slight changes in the genetic information of the offspring during fertilization.
5. The trait is beneficial to the population: If a trait is beneficial to a population, it will increase naturally. Such green color in beetles is favorable as it helps them in camouflage against predators.

Note:
Traits arise due to variations that occur due to sexual reproduction of inaccuracies during DNA copying or environmental factors. And variations occur due to mutation in genes. And large step single mutations contribute to evolutions.