Gene essentiality is a founding concept of genetics with important implications in both fundamental and applied research. Multiple screens have been performed over the years in bacteria, yeasts, animals and more recently in human cells to identify essential genes. A mounting body of evidence suggests that gene essentiality, rather than being a static and binary property, is both context dependent and evolvable in all kingdoms of life. This concept of a non-absolute nature of gene essentiality changes our fundamental understanding of essential biological processes and could directly affect future treatment strategies for cancer and infectious diseases.

中文翻译：

---

基因重要性方面的新兴概念

基因重要性是遗传学的基础概念，在基础研究和应用研究中均具有重要意义。多年来，已经在细菌，酵母，动物以及最近在人细胞中进行了多次筛选，以鉴定必需的基因。越来越多的证据表明，基因的本质，而不是静态的和二元的属性，在生活的所有王国中都取决于上下文并且是可进化的。基因重要性非绝对性质的概念改变了我们对基本生物学过程的基本理解，并可能直接影响癌症和传染病的未来治疗策略。