Intricate Toiling Found In Nooks of DNA Once Believed to Stand Idle

Washington Post ^ | 6/14/07 | Rick Weiss

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

The first concerted effort to understand all the inner workings of the DNA molecule is overturning a host of long-held assumptions about the nature of genes and their role in human health and evolution, scientists reported yesterday.

The new perspective reveals DNA to be not just a string of biological code but a dauntingly complex operating system that processes many more kinds of information than previously appreciated.

The findings, from a project involving hundreds of scientists in 11 countries and detailed in 29 papers being published today, confirm growing suspicions that the stretches of "junk DNA" flanking hardworking genes are not junk at all. But the study goes further, indicating for the first time that the vast majority of the 3 billion "letters" of the human genetic code are busily toiling at an array of previously invisible tasks.

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

Amazing!

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

Amazing DNA Ping

[Red Badger]

Kind of like Windows Vista............

[TChris]

See related link here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1850103/posts

[dirtboy]

The findings, from a project involving hundreds of scientists in 11 countries and detailed in 29 papers being published today, confirm growing suspicions that the stretches of "junk DNA" flanking hardworking genes are not junk at all. But the study goes further, indicating for the first time that the vast majority of the 3 billion "letters" of the human genetic code are busily toiling at an array of previously invisible tasks.

I'm not surprised.

I've had my own theory for some time that organisms can imprint changes on their own DNA during their lifetimes and pass those changes directly to offspring. It's the best way, IMO, to explain ingrained and unlearned behaviors.

[MEGoody]

The new perspective reveals DNA to be not just a string of biological code but a dauntingly complex operating system that processes many more kinds of information than previously appreciated.

And it was all brought about by a series of random mutations. ::Sarc::

[AU72]

We know who did the programming, but who did the QA?

[joebuck]

"And it was all brought about by a series of random mutations."

I've always suspected the successful Darwinian "random mutations" were actually geneticly encoded events which help species survive in a dynamic, changing world.

[MEGoody]

We know who did the programming, but who did the QA?

Same guy. Then he turned it over to His client who refused to follow the documentation.

[theDentist]

...the stretches of "junk DNA" flanking hardworking genes are not junk at all.

No sh** Sherlock! Of course they have a purpose. Every little atom in the strand has a purpose, and most of them we're unaware of (so far). Like an appendix, we may be able to live without it, but it was there for a purpose.

How can such "Doctors" and "Scientists" make such foolish assumptions just becuase they don't know what something does?

[driftdiver]

But I thought we understood everything about DNA and were ready to start cloning people?

[driftdiver]

“How can such “Doctors” and “Scientists” make such foolish assumptions just becuase they don’t know what something does”

Ego.

If they don’t understand something then it doesn’t exist. Anyone who believes otherwise is a heretic and must be treated the fool.

[Tolkien]

I never realized evolutionary mutations were so smart! /sarc

[Moonman62]

I wonder what this will do to the mutation rate calculations based on the assumption that junk DNA is nonfunctional.

[BenLurkin]

Bump!

[Diplomat]

Completely un-amazing, unless you assume DNA designed and coded itself.

If evolution is true, then SETI is a complete scientific fraud. You cannot assume organization for one is conclusive evidence of intelligence and then turn around and state the exact opposite for life itself. Unless you are a scientist trolling for funding.

[50sDad]

Quartermass and the Pit...

[Old Professer]

No wonder we keep wearing out.

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

Sorry. Did a search using “DNA” and thought the coast was clear. :)

[twigs]

Interesting you say that. I’ve wondered about something similar.