The gene pool of a species includes all the genes in the population. Click on image for full size (32K GIF) Windows Original

• Gene mutation: If there is an error during cell division, a new type of gene might show up in an individual. That new gene is part of the gene pool and can be passed on to the next generation. If the new gene is advantageous, it might become a common part of the gene pool.
• Gene flow: if new individuals of the species move into or out of the region, it can affect the gene pool. For instance, the only people in North America were once Native Americans. Immigration from other parts of the world over the last several hundred years has changed the gene pool significantly.
• Genetic drift: Gene frequencies in a population change over time because of chance events. For instance, if a few individuals leave a population and establish a new one, by chance their gene pool may not have the same frequency of genes as in the population they left. For example, plants that get to islands as seeds stuck to the feet of birds or in their stomachs may not be typical of their species, but they become the gene pool on the island.
• Natural selection: Some genetic differences will enhance survival of individuals in a population that possess them. For instance, hawks with large sharp talons may be more likely to survive than hawks with small talons. Since the surviving ones make the next generation, the genes for large talons are more likely to be passed on. Thus, eventually, the gene pool shifts towards large talons.

Microevolution is changes in the gene pool of a population over time that result in changes to the varieties of organisms in a population. Examples of microevolution include bacterial strains that have become resistant to antibiotics, or a change in a species' coloring or size. If the changes are over a very long time and are significant enough that the population is no longer able to interbreed with other populations, it is considered a different species. This is called macroevolution.

The gene pool of a species includes all the genes in the population. Click on image for full size (32K GIF) Windows Original

• Gene mutation: An error during cell division can create a new type of gene. That new gene is a small part of the gene pool. It can be passed on to the next generation. If the new gene is useful, it might become a common part of the gene pool.
• Gene flow: if new individuals of the species move into or out of the region, it can affect the gene pool. For instance, the only people in North America were once Native Americans. Immigration from other parts of the world over the last several hundred years has changed the gene pool a lot.
• Genetic drift: The amount of each gene in a gene pool can change over time because of chance events. For instance, if a few individuals leave a population and establish a new one, by chance their gene pool may not have the same frequency of genes as in the population they left. For example, plants that get to islands as seeds stuck to the feet of birds or in their stomachs may not be typical of their species, but they become the gene pool on the island.
• Natural selection: Some genetic differences will improve the chance of survival of individuals that have them. For instance, hawks with large sharp talons may be more likely to survive than hawks with small talons. Since the surviving ones make the next generation, the genes for large talons are more likely to be passed on. Eventually, the gene pool shifts towards large talons.

Microevolution is changes in the gene pool of a population over time that result in changes to the varieties of individuals in a population. Examples of microevolution include bacteria that have become unaffected by antibiotics, or a change in a species' coloring or size. If the changes are over a very long time and are large enough that the population is no longer able to breed with other populations, it is considered a different species. This is called macroevolution.

The gene pool of a species includes all the genes in the population. Click on image for full size (32K GIF) Windows Original

All of the versions of the genes in a population of a species are together called the gene pool. All of the genes for color that are found in the population are part of the gene pool. Colors that are very common, like green, are very common in the gene pool. The genes for less common colors are less common in the gene pool.

The gene pool does not always stay the same. Over generations, small changes in the amount of each type of gene can happen for a number of reasons.

• Genes can mutate if something odd happens when cells divide. This can create a new type of gene. Perhaps this is now the gene for purple frogs was developed. The new purple gene is a small part of the gene pool.
• If a bunch of red frogs move into the area, it would add more red genes into the gene pool. This would make more red frogs in the next generation.
• If the red and purple frogs decided to more elsewhere, they would form a new gene pool that didn’t have any green in it. And, the gene pool they came from would have only green in it.
• If these frogs live in an area with red rocks, the red frogs would be camouflaged and easily able to avoid predators. Red frogs would be more likely to survive and reproduce, making more red frogs. This would increase the amount of red genes in the gene pool.

Changes in the gene pool of a population over time that result in changes to the varieties of individuals in a population are called microevolution. Examples of microevolution include bacteria that have become unaffected by antibiotics, or a change in a species' coloring or size. If the changes are over a very long time and are large enough that the population is no longer able to breed with other populations, it is considered a different species. This is called macroevolution.