“Degrees of Kevin Bacon” is a phrase primarily associated with a popular game —Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon — in which players link any actor to Bacon through a chain of co-stars in six steps or less. This phrase seems to be humorously used in the context of gene research.
In this case, it would mean that scientists have identified a gene that has connections to many other genes, similar to how actor Kevin Bacon has connections to many other actors. The phrase serves as a metaphor to describe a gene that either influences or is influenced by a large number of other genes, making it a critical component in genetic research and understanding.
However, without more context, it’s hard to discern what specific gene is being referred to and in what context. It could be a gene that potentially influences a wide spectrum of diseases or a gene that plays a key role in several different biological processes.
