Crossclimb #660 Answer – February 19, 2026
GENEPOOL
Answer
GENEPOOL
Combo Clue
“A two-word phrase for all the variations of DNA in a population”
📖 How I Solved It
I sat down with puzzle #660 and immediately felt the challenge. The combo clue, 'A two-word phrase for all the variations of DNA in a population,' had me scratching my head. I was pretty sure it was something scientific, but I couldn't figure it out at first. I started with a wrong guess of 'GENETIC DIVERSITY,' but that didn’t fit with the letters I had. Then I finally landed on 'GENEPOOL,' which just clicked! The word ladder was another beast. I got stuck on 'COOK' for a while, mixing up my letters and thinking more about chef shows than logic. But once I got to 'COOL,' everything fell into place. The satisfaction of finally cracking it was worth the confusion, though!
💡 Tips for This Puzzle
- •Focus on the combo clue and let it guide your word ladder choices.
- •Don't hesitate to backtrack if a word doesn't fit; sometimes you'll need to rethink your path.
- •Think about common phrases; they can point you to the right combo answer.