The total collection of alleles in all individuals of a breeding population.
Gene pool size and diversity influence a population's capacity to adapt. Small gene pools lose alleles through drift, and inbreeding raises homozygosity and unmasks harmful recessives.
Migration adds alleles to the pool.
The total collection of alleles in all individuals of a breeding population.
Gene Pool is one of the 54 topics in Genetics. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Population Genetics Models, Genetic Drift, Gene Flow.
Cheetahs have very low diversity after past bottlenecks.
Work through the Beginner topics in Genetics first, such as Heredity, Gene, Allele, then return to Gene Pool. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Gene Pool are Population Genetics Models, Genetic Drift, Gene Flow, Hardy-Weinberg Principle. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Gene Pool. To practise the whole of Genetics, use the Genetics quiz.
Gene Pool: The total collection of alleles in all individuals of a breeding population. Population Genetics Models: Mathematical models using selection, mutation, drift and migration to predict allele frequency change. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Population Genetics Models and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Genetics quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Mathematical models using selection, mutation, drift and migration to predict allele frequency change.
🧬 GeneticsRandom changes in allele frequency that have strong effects in small populations, including the founder effect and bottleneck.
🧬 GeneticsThe movement of alleles between populations through migration and interbreeding, reducing differences between them.
🧬 GeneticsPredicts that allele and genotype frequencies stay constant in an idealised population, following p squared plus 2pq plus q squared.
🧬 Genetics