Genetic insights into the past, present, and future of a keystone species.

The article focuses on a paper which examined the genetic legacy of a struggling species and the implications for a phoenix-like recovery from its genetic remnants. Topics include that early migration in Chinook does indeed have a simple genetic basis influenced by GREB1L gene; role of GREB1L gene in migration timing by collecting detailed phenotypic and genetic data; and presenting findings as evidence for a single evolutionary origin of the spring-run allele in Chinook salmon.