Beyond variability: a novel gene expression stability metric to unveil homeostasis and regulation

Abstract

The concept of gene expression stability within a homeostatic cell is explored through the gene homeostasis Z-index, a measure that highlights genes under active regulation in response to internal and external stimuli. This index reveals distinct regulatory activities and patterns in different organs, such as enhanced synaptic transmission in pancreatic islets. The research indicates that traditional mean-based methods may miss these nuances, underlining the significance of new metrics in identifying gene regulation specifics in cellular adaptation.