Gene Pool
In Gene Pool you evolve genes into cells and cells into organisms. Each time you evolve you lose old bonuses, but gain new, more powerful ones. Just watch out for mutations!
Goal
Be the first to evolve 3 organisms.
Set up
Place the 5 organisms in a row, face up, in the center of the table. Each player gets 3 cards. The remaining cards are placed on the table as the draw stack, aka "the gene pool." Make room for a discard pile too.
Each player needs room for 3 rows of cards in front of them -- their organisms, cells, and genes. Each player also needs room to the side for mutations.
How to play
On your turn you may make as many plays as possible as follows:
Genes
You may play any card from your hand to the table face down as a "gene."
Cells
In order to play a card from your hand to the table face up as a "cell," you must pay the cost shown on the cell card by discarding that many tabled genes (minus any cost discount bonuses).
Some cells are adapted to survive in special environments: water, heat, or cold. Some cells also include bonuses (discussed below). A few cell cards count as two cells.
Organisms
You may claim an organism from the center and add it to your tabled cards by discarding the number of tabled cells shown as its cost. Each organisms costs a specific number of cells, and most require some cells with specific adaptations.
Organisms also have bonuses. You need to collect 3 organisms to win the game.
Ending your turn
Finish your turn by drawing one card (plus any any bonus draws) up to your current hand limit. The hand limit starts at 3 cards, but each organism you claim adds 1 to your hand limit, so if you have 1 organism your hand limit is 4, and if you have 2 organisms your hand limit is 5.
If you run out of cards in the gene pool, shuffle the discard pile to replace it.
Bonuses
Some cards include one or more bonuses. The 2 primary bonuses are:
Cell cost discounts - Reduces the number of tabled genes you must discard to play a cell. Some discounts apply only to cells with a specific adaptation. You can add up multiple discount bonuses, but you must pay a minimum of 1 gene to play a cell.
Additional draws - Lets you draw cards in addition to the 1 card you normally draw at the end of your turn. You can add up multiple draw bonuses, but you cannot draw over your hand limit.
Some cards have special bonuses described on the card.
Mutations
The gene pool has a few mutation cards, which must be played to the table immediately when you draw them (or at the beginning of the game). Each mutation has a specific variation to the normal rules which applies to you for the entire game. Mutations count as a draw, but don't count against your hand limit.