Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Genetic diversity refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished by the variation at gene levels.
An allele is a variant form of a given gene, meaning it is one of two or more versions of a particular gene that exist within a population. In our ice cream analogy, alleles would be like different variations on chocolate - dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate.
The gene pool is the set or 'pool' of all genes present in a population at any one time. This would be like all the possible ice cream flavors available in your city at any given time.
Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes they are part; this includes diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species and ecosystem diversity. So biodiversity would include not just our ice cream shop but also bakeries, candy stores, smoothie shops - all places where you can find sweet treats!