Gene pool

The totality of all alleles of all genes of all individuals in a particular population.

1. The sum of all genetic information in a breeding population at a given time. 2. In plant genetic resources, use is made of the terms 'primary', 'secondary' and 'tertiary' gene pools. In general, members of the primary gene pool are inter-fertile; those of the secondary can be crossed with those in the primary gene pool under special circumstances; but to introgress variation from the tertiary gene pool, special techniques are required to achieve crossing.

The sum total of genes, with all their variations, possessed by a particular species at a particular time. See also allele, chromosome, gene

All the variations of genes in a species. See also: allele, gene, polymorphism