Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 10/02/2009 14:15:20

Title: Junk DNA !..What's that all about ?
Post by: neilep on 10/02/2009 14:15:20

Dear DNAologists,

As a sheepy I of course have wonderful qualifications when it comes to DNA !..I'm quite literally filled to the brim with the stuff !


But check this out !

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According to some sources, about 95% of the DNA in ewe and me is junk !!...it's like...well rubbish innit  ?

Why's that then ?...why is 95% of our DNA deemed "Junk"...surely it must have a role else why is it there ?...what does it do ?

Please teel me about Junk DNA cos guess what ?..I just do not know !....


Thank ewe


Hugs & Shmishes





Neil
DNA Approved !
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Title: Junk DNA !..What's that all about ?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 11/02/2009 02:50:39

So that there are less chances of mutations. For example, a high proportion of nonfunctional sequence makes it unlikely that a functional element will be destroyed in a chromosomal crossover event, possibly making a species more tolerant to this important mechanism of genetic recombination. That's one of the reasons anyway.

http://www.crystalinks.com/junkdna.html

Title: Junk DNA !..What's that all about ?
Post by: Nicci on 11/02/2009 09:34:06

It means that you can longer blame your genes for poor eating habits, obesity, bad tempers, depression and lifestyle related diseases. It means that we are in control of our health and our destinies. It means the only thing we really inherit from our parents is bad habits and its about time we took responsibility for our lives, our thoughts and our actions!! Awesome hey?

Title: Junk DNA !..What's that all about ?
Post by: dentstudent on 11/02/2009 09:40:12

Quote from: Nicci on 11/02/2009 09:34:06

It means that you can longer blame your genes for poor eating habits, obesity, bad tempers, depression and lifestyle related diseases. It means that we are in control of our health and our destinies. It means the only thing we really inherit from our parents is bad habits and its about time we took responsibility for our lives, our thoughts and our actions!! Awesome hey?

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fclapping%2F2.gif&hash=f3ac90d0f104dd89dbe260c598e013a8)(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fclapping%2F2.gif&hash=f3ac90d0f104dd89dbe260c598e013a8)

Title: Junk DNA !..What's that all about ?
Post by: MonikaS on 11/02/2009 10:11:44

The politcal correct term is now Noncoding DNA.  [;D]

Current theory has it that those parts of our DNA are remains of retroviri, so called retro transposons.
The other parts of noncoding DNA are called pseudogenes and thought to be now defunct remains of old genes.

Despite being noncoding parts of this DNA seems to have an important function in gene regulation. Other parts are apparently only there to catch the random noise of mutations. They may be a reservoir of sequences from which potentially advantageous new genes can emerge. In this way, it may be an important genetic basis for evolution.

There is still a lot of research to be done.