Genetic variation in a population is derived from a wide assortment of genes and alleles. The persistence of populations over time through changing environments depends on their capacity to adapt to shifting external conditions. Sometimes the addition of a new allele to a population makes it more able to survive; sometimes the addition of a new allele to a population makes it less able. Still other times, the addition of a new allele to a population has no effect at all, yet the new allele will persist over generations because its contribution to survival is neutral.