A gene pool is the complete set of genetic information within all individuals in a population. It encompasses all the alleles present in the population's individuals.
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A larger gene pool indicates greater genetic diversity and a higher potential for adaptation to environmental changes.
The gene pool can change over time due to processes like mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Genetic drift has a more significant impact on small populations, potentially reducing genetic diversity quickly.
Gene flow occurs when individuals migrate between populations, introducing new alleles into the gene pool.
A bottleneck effect or founder effect can drastically reduce the size of a gene pool and decrease genetic variation.
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Related terms
Natural Selection: The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
Genetic Drift: A mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies within a population.
Gene Flow: The transfer of alleles or genes from one population to another through migration.