gene pool

American  

noun

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

---

gene pool British  

noun

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

---

gene pool Scientific  

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

---

gene pool Cultural  

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

---

Discover More

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

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

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2024

Arabica is so fragile in part because its gene pool is surprisingly narrow.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2024

Not one person in the exotic mix of my family gene pool has ever shown any obvious signs of having what August has.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio