The process that involves the gradual accumulation of genetic mutations in a population is referred to as mutation pressure. Over time, mutations can arise due to various factors including environmental influences and errors during DNA replication. As these mutations accumulate, some may confer advantageous traits that enhance survival and reproduction, leading to their increase in frequency within the population. This accumulation can drive evolution and contribute to the formation of new species as genetic divergence occurs among populations over extended periods. Mutation pressure is a critical mechanism in the evolutionary process.