Question

what happens to harmful or unhelpful traits in the survival of the fittest? they are modified to become beneficial. the genes get eliminated as organisms possessing them are less likely to survive. they have no impact on the survival of the organisms.

Explanation:

In the concept of "survival of the fittest" (natural selection), organisms with harmful or unhelpful traits are at a disadvantage. They are less likely to survive and reproduce. Since genes are passed on during reproduction, if organisms with certain harmful/unhelpful - trait - carrying genes don't survive to reproduce, those genes (and thus the traits) get eliminated from the population over time. Traits don't just "modify" to become beneficial on their own in this context, and harmful/unhelpful traits do have an impact (negative) on survival.

Answer:

The genes get eliminated as organisms possessing them are less likely to survive.