The appearance of new species of living things is possible only if existing ones share their genes with "newcomers". That is, sets of amino acids that are stored on the chromosomes of each living cell. All genes of all mankind make up the information bank. It turns out that the gene pool is a set of data characterizing all human beings of the past, present and future.
Where is this information stored?
The chromosomes themselves are located in the nuclei of cells. Each variety has an individual set responsible for its functions. Chromosomes direct the processes that occur both in a small single cell, and throughout the body. It is better to compare them with a computer, since all the actions that will occur in the cell are already registered in them, as in a computer program. When divided into two, a valuable set is duplicated and goes to each of the new cells. It turns out that every living organism receives information about all the creatures of its species, stored in genes.
The human gene pool is the totality of genes
Several billion people live on the planet. Absolutely everyone can boast their own set of genes. This information is individual and unique. The entire set of data that are contained in the chromosomes of people makes up the gene pool of mankind. It is divided into groups by nationality. For example, the gene pool of the Russian nation is the aggregate information about the sets of chromosomes of people of a given ethnic group.
What is the importance of the concept
The gene pool is an opportunity to pass on the characteristics of an ethnic group to future generations. When the population is reduced, conditions are created for its complete destruction. That is, there is a certain "critical mass" of the gene pool. If people stop giving birth to their own kind, then the ethnic group may disappear from the face of the Earth. This applies to all of humanity. Only constant reproduction contributes to the long-term existence of the species as such. Gene displacement during fertilization is responsible for the emergence of new mutations. In order for reproduction to be continuous, carriers of gene information must be sufficient, and they must possess genes that allow creatures to multiply. It turns out that the gene pool is information about the health and purity of an ethnic group or humanity as a whole.
The essence of the information contained in the chromosomes
Genes are responsible in general for the entire human body and not only. The color of the eyes or hair, complexion and body shape are determined by hereditary information, that is, the set of chromosomes that the child receives from parents. In addition, he still gets the likelihood of acquiring a disease. Now there is a debate about the inheritance of temperament. But the human body is not perfect and often fails. Reproductive function also applies. Due to abnormalities, a child may receive a damaged set of chromosomes that will cause diseases or mutations. He will give such a set to his descendants, and this is a threat to the entire gene pool. Of course, one failure will not destroy humanity. But if these violations become widespread, then they threaten the existence of the whole species, since the chain of inheritance of characters is continuous. Science is trying to find ways to combat gene diseases, but so far it remains at the fantasy level, so maintaining a viable gene pool of humanity is one of the main tasks.