Self pollination refers to the process in which the pollen from the stamen of a flower is transferred to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant. This can lead to inbreeding, which refers to the mating or reproduction between individuals that are closely related genetically. Inbreeding can result in a decrease in genetic diversity and the expression of harmful recessive traits. This is because offspring produced through self pollination receive two copies of each gene from the same parent, increasing the chances of inheriting deleterious mutations. Inbreeding can lead to a decrease in overall fitness and reproductive success of a population or species. However, it is important to note that self pollination is not always detrimental and can be advantageous in certain situations, such as when environmental conditions are consistent and there are no beneficial genetic variants available from other individuals.