Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between separate populations. Many organisms are divided into separate populations that have restricted contact with each other, possibly leading to reproductive isolation. Many things can fragment a species into a collection of isolated populations. For example, a treacherous mountain pass may cut off one herd of mountain goats from another. In human beings, cultural differences as well as geographic separation maintain unique populations: It is more likely that a person will marry and have children with someone who lives nearby and speaks the same language.

Over time, reproductive isolation can lead to genetic differences between two populations. Gene flow between populations limits this genetic divergence, serving to inhibit the development of separate species out of the two separated populations.

The essential mechanism of gene flow is movement of individuals (or their gametes) between populations. For example, gene flow...