gene flow

American  

noun

Ecology.

1. the alteration of the frequencies of alleles of particular genes in a population, resulting from interbreeding with organisms from another population having different frequencies.

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gene flow British  

noun

1. the movement and exchange of genes between interbreeding populations

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Etymology

Origin of gene flow

First recorded in 1945–50

Compare meaning

How does gene-flow compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gene flow vs. genetic drift

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gene flow

Instead the gene flow "occurred predominantly between Neanderthal males and anatomically modern human females," said Alexander Platt, a senior research scientist on the study.

From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026

Officials in the report note that most of the lion groups proposed for listing are contending with a lack of gene flow because urban barriers keep them from reaching one another.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

"Our initial findings suggest that climate change will increase habitat fragmentation and limit gene flow for aardvarks, particularly where precipitation is expected to decrease and temperature increase," Epps said.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 18, 2023

“That gene flow that monarchs may facilitate is probably unmatched by other flower visitors to milkweeds,” Lee-Mäder said.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 8, 2023

Regardless of cause, the gaps in distribution of H. gracilis tend to limit gene flow.

From Geographic Variation in the North American Cyprinid Fish, Hybopsis gracilis by Frank B. Cross