Gene pool

Definition

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.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A larger gene pool indicates greater genetic diversity and a higher potential for adaptation to environmental changes.
2. The gene pool can change over time due to processes like mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
3. Genetic drift has a more significant impact on small populations, potentially reducing genetic diversity quickly.
4. Gene flow occurs when individuals migrate between populations, introducing new alleles into the gene pool.
5. A bottleneck effect or founder effect can drastically reduce the size of a gene pool and decrease genetic variation.

Review Questions

• How does genetic drift affect the gene pool of small populations compared to large populations?
• What role does mutation play in altering a population's gene pool?
• Explain how gene flow contributes to genetic diversity within a population's gene pool.

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.