Eco-evolutionary effects of keystone genes.

The article discusses a study by M. A. Barbour and colleagues, published within the issue, which showed that a gene affecting a plant's resistance to herbivory also influences the persistence of the food web through the gene's effect on plant growth. Topics include reason that it is important to determine the genes that underlie eco-evolutionary dynamics, how the gene affects extinction, and comparison between studying complex genetic architectures and studying single genes.