For natural selection to cause evolution, it must select for or against one or more of the genotypes for a trait. In the simple case of a trait that is determined by a single gene with two alleles, there are five combinations of genotypes that nature can select:

1. either homozygote (AA or aa but not both)
2. both homozygotes (AA and aa)
3. either homozygote and the heterozygote (AA and Aa or aa and Aa)
4. the heterozygote (Aa)
5. all alleles (AA, Aa, and aa).