gene pool

American  

noun

1. the total genetic information in the gametes of all the individuals in a population.

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gene pool British  

noun

1. the sum of all the genes in an interbreeding population

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gene pool Scientific  

1. The collective genetic information contained within a population of sexually reproducing organisms.

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gene pool Cultural  

1. The total number of genes available in a given species.

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Loosely speaking, the gene pool represents the total breeding stock available to the species.

Etymology

Origin of gene pool

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

And with ways to “improve” that genome—including by adding more of his own genes to humanity’s gene pool.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

Therefore, if Neanderthal males and modern human females were mating more frequently, more human X chromosomes would enter the Neanderthal gene pool -- and fewer Neanderthal X chromosomes would end up in human populations.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

They dated the bones, analysed the DNA and compared this with the gene pool of modern cats.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

Kinked tails and reduced semen quality have revealed that these mountain suffer from a restricted gene pool.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2024

So I get it from both sides of the gene pool.

From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben