What is Gene Flow?
Gene flow – also called migration and emigration – is the movement of individuals between populations resulting in possible sources of diversity. Migration may result in the addition of new traits/variation into the population whereas emigration may result in the loss of particular traits/variation. Gene flow must involve different kinds of events for gene variation and evolution to occur. For example, people migrating into unfamiliar countries or particular animals moving from one place to another due to change in the environment such as season. If gene versions are carried to a population where those gene versions previously did not exist, gene flow can be a very important source of genetic variation and evolution within the species.
Gene Flow and its Role in Evolution
Evolution has occurred due to gene flow. Without the emigration and migration of individuals between populations there would be no variation and organisms wouldn't of been able to evolve. Gene flow has provided genetic variation in a species resulting in evolution. Animals who could not adapted to their environment have evolved to be better suited in that environment thanks to gene flow. Animals who migrated from one place to another provided the addition of new traits/variation into a population. They brought traits/variation that could helped the native animals to better survive in that environment. Eventually, as they mate and reproduce, their offspring would have those beneficial traits/variation and evolve in even more to ensure that they live much longer.