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Related Concept Videos

Keystone Species01:39

Keystone Species

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Measures of species biodiversity, such as richness (i.e., the number of species present) and evenness (i.e., their relative abundance), describe an ecological community’s structure. Many factors affect community structure, including abiotic factors (e.g., sunlight and nutrients), disturbances (e.g., fire or flood), species interactions (e.g., predation or competition), and chance events (e.g., foreign species invasion). Certain species—such as keystone species—also play a...
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Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
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Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
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Gene therapy is a technique where a gene is inserted into a person’s cells to prevent or treat a serious disease. The added gene may be a healthy version of the gene that is mutated in the patient, or it could be a different gene that inactivates or compensates for the patient’s disease-causing gene. For example, in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) due to a mutation in the gene for the enzyme adenosine deaminase, a functioning version of the gene can be...
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Keystone Genes.

Lotte H Skovmand1, Charles C Y Xu1, Maria R Servedio2

  • 1Redpath Museum & Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|August 13, 2018
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

We introduce the concept of keystone genes (KGs), which are genes with significant ecological impacts, similar to keystone species. Identifying these genes is crucial for understanding eco-evolutionary dynamics and ecosystem properties.

Keywords:
community geneticseco-evolutionary dynamicsecosystem geneticsgene-environment interactionstannin

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The keystone species concept highlights species with disproportionately large ecological impacts.
  • Ecological processes are influenced by the interactions and traits of species within communities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To extend the keystone species concept to the genetic level, proposing the existence of 'keystone genes' (KGs).
  • To establish a framework for identifying KGs and categorizing them within 'ecologically important genes' (EIGs).

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual framework development.
  • Literature review and synthesis of existing ecological and genetic concepts.

Main Results:

  • Proposal of the 'keystone gene' (KG) concept, analogous to keystone species.
  • Definition of KGs as genes underlying traits that significantly alter species interactions or environmental conditions.
  • Inclusion of KGs within the broader category of 'ecologically important genes' (EIGs), alongside foundation and ecosystem engineering genes.

Conclusions:

  • Keystone genes, though potentially rare, can profoundly influence ecological processes and community structure.
  • The identification and study of KGs and other EIGs are vital for advancing our understanding of eco-evolutionary dynamics and ecosystem functioning.