Geenipooli

Gene pool, known in Finnish as geenipooli, refers to the total repository of genetic variation present within the members of a population at a given time. It includes all alleles at all gene loci and the frequencies with which those alleles occur.

The gene pool is dynamic and changes across generations due to mutation, recombination, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Mutations introduce new alleles; recombination creates new allele combinations; selection shifts allele frequencies based on relative fitness; genetic drift causes random fluctuations, especially in small populations; and migration or gene flow brings in alleles from other populations.

Studying a gene pool involves estimating allele frequencies and measures of genetic diversity, such as heterozygosity. The concept is central to population genetics, helping explain how populations adapt, diverge, and respond to environmental changes. It also underpins practical concerns in conservation biology and selective breeding, where maintaining or shaping the gene pool can influence resilience, adaptability, and long-term viability.

Examples of phenomena that affect a gene pool include bottlenecks, which sharply reduce genetic diversity; founder effects, where new populations start from a small number of individuals; and domestication, which alters allele frequencies through deliberate selection. Understanding the gene pool thus provides insight into evolutionary history, species survival, and the management of genetic resources.