Reanimated ‘Junk’ DNA Is Found to Cause Disease

The New York Times ^

[GeorgeSaden]

The human genome is riddled with dead genes, fossils of a sort, dating back hundreds of thousands of years — the genome’s equivalent of an attic full of broken and useless junk.

Some of those genes, surprised geneticists reported Thursday, can rise from the dead like zombies, waking up to cause one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy. This is the first time, geneticists say, that they have seen a dead gene come back to life and cause a disease.

“If we were thinking of a collection of the genome’s greatest hits, this would go on the list,” said Dr. Francis Collins, a human geneticist and director of the National Institutes of Health.

[JRios1968]

"Junk", "DNA", "disease"...for some reason I keep thinking of something...

Nah, couldn't be!

[Yo-Yo]

One man’s junk DNA is another man’s treasure...

[theBuckwheat]

“The human genome is riddled with dead genes, fossils of a sort, dating back hundreds of thousands of years — the genome’s equivalent of an attic full of broken and useless junk.”

Genetics is very similar to climate analysis in that it is a field still in its infancy. As such we will be subjected to confident proclamations about what exactly this or that is or is not, only to be treated next week to new and equally confident proclamations that say something totally different.

As of this moment, I am not convinced that any DNA is “junk”. That is my opinion, and I am happy to have it proved wrong. So far, what passes for “proof” has been entirely unstatisfactory.

[Cheburashka]

Another great rock and roll band name: Zombie Junk DNA

[mountainlion]

I think I will wait for more sources.

[DustyMoment]

I have seen a precursor to this article describing, essentially, the same thing.

I agree with the posters who state that DNA research is still in its infancy and we shouldn’t get crazy with this kind of information. To date, we know less about the human genome than the DBM would have you believe.

Nonetheless, it’s something I hope we will learn more about in the future. It would be an amazing breakthrough for curing some of the diseases we are currently facing if this proves to be valid.

[Slyfox]

...and I will raise you the second black president...

[ClearCase_guy]

I agree. There sometimes seems to be an attitude that "I don't understand this, therefore it is useless stuff that we don't need. It's junk."

Ironically, it's somewhat common for this to be brought up in reverse when people question evolution: "Hey, just because evolutionary biology is too complex for you to grasp, doesn't mean that it's not correct."

Contemporary science seems to hunger for solutions. The solution may change tomorrow as new evidence is uncovered, but at all times we need a solution -- and those who question today's wisdom are apostates who must be shouted down.

Personally, I'd like science to be more of an on-going quest than a dogmatic position which must be defended against all comers.

[theBuckwheat]

Excellent. “Contemporary science seems to hunger for solutions.” I don’t fault them for that, where I object is where we have “solution hubris”, which is often related to the academic scientific ego: I have a PhD, therefore I must be right. (and you rubes can’t possibly know organic refuse from shoe polish)