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Opposable Thumbs and Upright Walking Caused By "Junk DNA"
quinnlynn writes "A group of research scientists at Yale discovered that the evolution of opposable thumbs and upright walking in humans is due to changes in the genome in the areas still classified as "junk DNA." Quoting: 'Results from a comparative analysis of the human, chimpanzee, rhesus macaque and other genomes reported in the journal Science suggest our evolution may have been driven not only by sequence changes in genes, but by changes in areas of the genome once thought of as "junk DNA." ... Researchers have long suspected changes in gene expression contributed to human evolution, but this had been difficult to study until recently because most of the sequences that control genes had not been identified. In the last several years, scientists have discovered that non-coding regions of the genome, far from being junk, contain thousands of regulatory elements that act as genetic "switches" to turn genes on or off.'"
Yale has also recently completed sequencing the Trichoplax genome. Trichoplax has the simplest known animal genome, and it shares 80 percent of its genes (comprised of 98 million base pairs) with humanity. Professor Stephen Dellaporta was quoted saying, "We are [excited] to find that Trichoplax contains shared pathways and defined regulatory sequences that link these most primitive ancestors to higher animal species. The Trichoplax genome will serve as a type of 'Rosetta Stone' for understanding the origins of animal-specific pathways."
Actually its been widely known that 'junk DNA' does have an active role for a long time. The big problem is identifying which bits of it are responsible for regulation/transcription.
The main problem with the public's perception, and indeed that of some scientists, is the continued use of the term 'junk DNA' when the concept it embodies has been thoroughly discredited.
For the moment a lot of work does discount area's of DNA for which there isn't enough background information, but that's more to do with the need to make progress on the bits we understand, rather than to avoid looking at the junk.
This is likely why so many people still think that Junk DNA is a thing that we actively avoid. It isn't.
A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
You found out what 10% of the brain does (the sensory/motor areas)? The other 90% must not be used for anything.
This old myth actually never had its origin in science, but was created and then spread through popular media. Please don't help it survive - it's time to let it die.