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

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

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

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

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann