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

See Examples For:

gene pool

It refers to ginning up the gene pool through tools like gene editing and A.I. enhancement, the argument being that manipulating genes can make us better, faster, smarter.

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

This fits in with Kennedy's long-standing history of eugenics-tinged notions that disease is a good thing, falsely claiming that it strengthens the gene pool, and insinuating that it makes survivors stronger.

From Salon ● May 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

Their gene pool was correspondingly restricted, which meant that Indian biochemistry was and is unusually homogeneous.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann