Human Genome More Like a Functional Network

bshell writes "An article in science blog says we may have to rethink how genes work. So called "junk DNA" actually appears to be functional. What's more it works in a mysterious way involving multiple overlaps that seems to be connected in some sort of network." From the article: "The ENCODE consortium's major findings include the discovery that the majority of DNA in the human genome is transcribed into functional molecules, called RNA, and that these transcripts extensively overlap one another. This broad pattern of transcription challenges the long-standing view that the human genome consists of a relatively small set of discrete genes, along with a vast amount of so-called junk DNA that is not biologically active. The new data indicates the genome contains very little unused sequences and, in fact, is a complex, interwoven network. In this network, genes are just one of many types of DNA sequences that have a functional impact. "Our perspective of transcription and genes may have to evolve," the researchers state in their Nature paper, noting the network model of the genome "poses some interesting mechanistic questions" that have yet to be answered."

Comments

Re:Of course its not junk

[Founder of PostGenet]

The genome is fractal - governing fractal growth of organelles, organs and organisms. Even from a single fractal template (e.g. the algorithm of z=z^2+C) an enormously "complex" pattern, full of self-similar repetitions will develop. The "gene"-parts of the genome determine "fractal templates" of proteins, while the "PostGene"-sequences supply the auxiliary information necessary for iterative hierarchical development (architecture of complex protein structures). This concept/utility (FractoGene) triggered 300+ entries in slashdot in 2002 when an algorithmic approach first challenged the "gene/junk" dogma. The saga (including slashdot reference) is recorded at http://www.junkdna.com/ (as well as on http://www.fractogene.com/ ) Of course it is not junk... "junkDNA" is not a scientific term any more - but an important nickname for "the biggest mistake in the history of molecular biology". pellionisz_at_junkdna.com

Re:error correction

[crashfrog]

I don't think evolution would be very kind to unneeded material.

There's really almost no selection pressure against extra DNA sequences, particularly ones with no associated promoter. One of the proofs of this is the fact that the human genome is comprised more of endogenous retroviruses than actual functional sequences.