Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations?
It is a commonly held view that genetically homogenous host populations are more vulnerable to infection than genetically diverse populations. The underlying idea, known as the 'monoculture effect,' is well documented in agricultural studies. Low genetic diversity in the wild can result fr...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2012
|
| _version_ | 1797079045591007232 |
|---|---|
| author | King, K Lively, C |
| author_facet | King, K Lively, C |
| author_sort | King, K |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | It is a commonly held view that genetically homogenous host populations are more vulnerable to infection than genetically diverse populations. The underlying idea, known as the 'monoculture effect,' is well documented in agricultural studies. Low genetic diversity in the wild can result from bottlenecks (that is, founder effects), biparental inbreeding or self-fertilization, any of which might increase the risk of epidemics. Host genetic diversity could buffer populations against epidemics in nature, but it is not clear how much diversity is required to prevent disease spread. Recent theoretical and empirical studies, particularly in Daphnia populations, have helped to establish that genetic diversity can reduce parasite transmission. Here, we review the present theoretical work and empirical evidence, and we suggest a new focus on finding 'diversity thresholds.' |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:40:02Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:82bbdffc-b01a-4f87-bd66-1deb15f3de18 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:40:02Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:82bbdffc-b01a-4f87-bd66-1deb15f3de182022-03-26T21:39:22ZDoes genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:82bbdffc-b01a-4f87-bd66-1deb15f3de18EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2012King, KLively, CIt is a commonly held view that genetically homogenous host populations are more vulnerable to infection than genetically diverse populations. The underlying idea, known as the 'monoculture effect,' is well documented in agricultural studies. Low genetic diversity in the wild can result from bottlenecks (that is, founder effects), biparental inbreeding or self-fertilization, any of which might increase the risk of epidemics. Host genetic diversity could buffer populations against epidemics in nature, but it is not clear how much diversity is required to prevent disease spread. Recent theoretical and empirical studies, particularly in Daphnia populations, have helped to establish that genetic diversity can reduce parasite transmission. Here, we review the present theoretical work and empirical evidence, and we suggest a new focus on finding 'diversity thresholds.' |
| spellingShingle | King, K Lively, C Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations? |
| title | Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations? |
| title_full | Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations? |
| title_fullStr | Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations? |
| title_short | Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations? |
| title_sort | does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kingk doesgeneticdiversitylimitdiseasespreadinnaturalhostpopulations AT livelyc doesgeneticdiversitylimitdiseasespreadinnaturalhostpopulations |