Genetic diversity refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It forms the foundation of a species’ ability to adapt to changing environments and survive over time. High genetic diversity within a population allows for a wide range of traits that can be beneficial under different environmental pressures, such as disease, climate change, or habitat modification. When individuals possess different alleles, some may confer advantages that enhance survival and reproductive success, ensuring that the species persists even under adverse conditions. For example, in a population of plants exposed to drought, some individuals may carry alleles that improve water-use efficiency, enabling those individuals to survive and reproduce, thereby passing on these advantageous traits. This capacity for adaptation through genetic variability is a critical principle of ecology because it maintains ecosystem stability and resilience. Genetic diversity is also central to evolutionary processes. It provides the raw material upon which natural selection acts, enabling populations to evolve over generations. Without sufficient genetic variation, a species cannot respond effectively to selective pressures, making it more susceptible to extinction. For instance, a population with low genetic diversity may be wiped out by a single pathogen