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The current rate of species extinction is rapidly approaching unprecedented highs, and life on Earth presently faces a sixth mass extinction event driven by anthropogenic activity, climate change, and ecological collapse. The field of conservation genetics aims at preserving species by using their levels of genetic diversity, usually measured as neutral genome-wide diversity, as a barometer for evaluating population health and extinction risk. A fundamental assumption is that higher levels of genetic diversity lead to an increase in fitness and long-term survival of a species. Here, we argue against the perceived importance of neutral genetic diversity for the conservation of wild populations and species. We demonstrate that no simple general relationship exists between neutral genetic diversity and the risk of species extinction. Instead, a better understanding of the properties of functional genetic diversity, demographic history, and ecological relationships is necessary for developing and implementing effective conservation genetic strategies.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7958437 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2015096118 | DOI Listing |
Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban
May 2025
Department of Nephropathy and Rheumatology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013.
Dent disease is a rare X-linked recessive inherited renal tubular disorder characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria (LMWP), hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and other clinical features, and can lead to progressive renal failure. It is primarily caused by mutations in the gene. This article reports the case of a 10-year-old male patient of Chinese descent who was incidentally found to have asymptomatic proteinuria during a routine health examination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban
May 2025
Department of Geriatric Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha 410008.
Objectives: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is associated with poor prognosis, with 30% of patients diagnosed at an advanced stage. Mutations in the and genes are important prognostic factors for NSCLC, and targeted therapies can significantly improve survival in these patients. Although tissue biopsy remains the gold standard for detecting gene mutations, it has limitations, including invasiveness, sampling errors due to tumor heterogeneity, and poor reproducibility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer Rep (Hoboken)
September 2025
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital, Medical Centre of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Background: Epigenetic regulation significantly affects immune responses in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the role of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, especially in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) within LUAD, is not well understood.
Methods: This study examined m6A modification patterns in 973 LUAD patients using 23 regulatory genes.
Insect Sci
September 2025
Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
In addition to being one of the primary processes for the formation and expansion of gene families, gene duplication also establishes the basis for the diversity and redundancy of gene functions, providing an abundance of genetic resources and a potent adaptive potential for biological evolution. Trehalose is a high-quality carbon source and blood sugar in insects. However, recent theoretical developments suggest that mechanisms for facilitated trehalose transport in lepidopteran insects remain relatively scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Ecol
September 2025
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
Many North American game animals experienced severe population declines during the 19th century due to market hunting. However, estimates of the timing and magnitude of these declines often rely on anecdotal evidence, which makes it difficult to understand the lasting impacts of hunting pressures versus climate or landscape changes on the genetic diversity of contemporary populations. Historical reports suggest the California quail (Callipepla californica) suffered more significant hunting pressure in the late 19th century relative to either Gambel's (Callipepla gambelii) or mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus).
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