More than 90% of Human DNA Is Useless 'Junk,' Study Finds

http://mashable.com/2014/07/28/functional-dna-percentage/

by chasef • 12 years ago

3 6 12 years ago

s_q_b2• 12 years ago

This cuts against everything I've heard about genetics and epigenetic developments since the the complete of the HGP. It was my understanding that we were finding that the so-called "junk" DNA actually serves a variety of functions in regulating and controlling protein production and usage.

Wikipedia seems to agree: "The Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) project[3] suggested in September 2012 that over 80% of DNA in the human genome "serves some purpose, biochemically speaking".[4] This conclusion however is strongly criticized by other scientists,[5][6] with a recent article claiming that "8.2% of the human genome is likely to be functional, while only 2.2% has maintained constraint in both human and mouse since these species diverged".[7]"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noncoding_DNA

dekhn2• 12 years ago

I'm still waiting for somebody to make a minimal human genome that removes all the Alu sequences and shows it's viable.

s_q_b2• 12 years ago

Or really a minimal version of any genome. Build me a fruit fly with the "non-coding" sequences removed, and show me that its phenotypically normal. The genomes are remarkably similar, thus proving the point while not involving potential ethical issues.

maxerickson• 12 years ago

If only 2% of the human genome is coding proteins and if more than 90% of it is doing nothing, you still have room for ~7% of the genome to be functional, non-coding DNA.

seanflyon• 12 years ago

Over 90% of the human genome is able to mutate and still be viable. Much better than the reasoning I was expecting (We don't know what it does therefore it is junk), but still seems like a bit of a stretch.

More than 90% of Human DNA Is Useless 'Junk,' Study Finds

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