Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations?

doi:10.1038/hdy.2012.33

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Article

Does genetic diversity limit disease spread in natural host populations?

Heredity - 1 Oct 2012

King K C, Lively C M

Abstract excerpt

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...

Topics

Animals
Computer Simulation
Daphnia
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Founder Effect
Genetic Variation
Genetics, Population
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Inbreeding
Models, Genetic
Self-Fertilization

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Identifiers

PMID: 22713998
DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2012.33
PMCID: PMC3464021

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