Gene flow

This page contains too many unsourced statements and needs to be improved. Gene flow could use some help. Please research the article's assertions. Whatever is credible should be sourced, and what is not should be removed.

We're all Homo here Evolution

Relevant Hominids

Charles Darwin Alfred Russel Wallace Gregor Mendel Richard Dawkins Jerry Coyne

A Gradual Science

Theory of evolution Mollusc Prescribed Evolutionary Hypothesis Australopithecus

Plain Monkey Business

Young Earth Creationism Old Earth Creationism Intelligent Design Microevolution vs. Macroevolution v - t - e

Gene flow, also known as gene migration, occurs when alleles migrate or flow between one population to another. This is a mechanism by which new variants can be added to otherwise limited gene pools. Gene flow can decrease overall genetic diversity and variation between two separated populations (the primary means by which speciation can occur), but it can act as a mechanism for evolutionary change.

Gene flow is common in plants that fertilise by pollen, which is spread long distances via wind, animals or insects. Barriers that prevent these mechanisms from occurring can limit gene flow and contribute to the separation of populations, increasing their genetic diversity. For example, some species of plants either side of the Great Wall of China are shown to have increased genetic variation because gene flow between them is impeded by the wall. Other plant species that primarily pollinate by the wind exhibit less variation as the Great Wall doesn't act as much of a barrier for that mechanism.

Gene flow in humans

Gene flow in humans occurs when someone with differing genes breeds into a population. This leads to their genes being added to the collective gene pool.