Gene Flow

Gene flow is the movement of genes between populations. It occurs when an individual from one population migrates into a different population and interbreeds (reproduces) with individuals in a different population. This introduces new genotypes and phenotypes into the population, and increases the genetic relatedness between populations since receiving genetic contributions from other populations creates one large gene pool. While this exchange of genes can produce evolutionary change, stopping gene flow can also influence evolutionary change. A lack of gene flow due to social or geographic factors may lead to population divergence over time due as the populations become genetically distinct.