Meaning & use
gene pool
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Meaning
nouncountablebiology
All the genes and genetic variations found in a particular population of organisms.
Grammar: Countable; usually used with 'the' or 'a' when referring to a specific population.
Patterns
- the gene pool of a population
- a small gene pool
- a limited gene pool
- the human gene pool
A small gene pool can increase the risk of inherited diseases.
Conservationists are worried about the shrinking gene pool of the endangered species.
The gene pool of the island's population has been studied for decades.
Word forms
| plural | gene pools |
|---|
Common combinations
- limited gene pool
- The limited gene pool makes the breed vulnerable to health problems.
- diverse gene pool
- A diverse gene pool helps a species adapt to changing environments.
- shrink the gene pool
- Overhunting can shrink the gene pool of a species.
- preserve the gene pool
- Zoos aim to preserve the gene pool of endangered animals.
Synonyms and how they differ
- genetic diversity
- This refers to the variety of genes, not the total collection; it emphasizes variation rather than the whole set.
- gene bank
- A gene bank is a stored collection of genetic material, not the natural pool in a population.
Word family
Commonly confused: gene pool or gene bank?
gene pool vs gene bank
A 'gene bank' is a facility that stores genetic samples; a 'gene pool' is the total genetic variation in a living population.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'gene pool' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 is correct because 'gene pool' refers to the total genetic variation in a population. Options 0, 2, and 3 mistakenly treat 'gene pool' as a physical swimming pool, which is not the biological meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gene pool”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.