Stein Stromme asked:
>I asked a similar question the other day, but no answers yet so I'll
>repeat it here: How can it be known that this DNA "is not used by
>organisms"? Is current understanding of genetics really that good?
That question was addressed in this documentary, and my understanding
was that -- although you have a valid question -- yes the science is
that good (and this film was at least 5-10 years old. It was based on
the genetics work of a professor at one of the UC schools - a
well-known scientist but I can't remember his name offhand). There is
always the possibility that some of the code is used in some
undetectable way. But the chance that the masses of it -- and there
is TONS in a complex organism like a human -- to be present, but not
obviously coding for anything and yet being used without detection is
probably slim.
As we complete the Human Genome Project we should know even more about
what is used and what is not. There are places where whole segments of
DNA were duplicated, and the duplicated genes have no obvious purpose
until a use evolves through an environmental change or another
mutation. At least that is my understanding.
My best,
Wendee
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~ Wendee Holtcamp -- wendee@greendzn.com ~~
~~ Environment/Travel/Science Writer ~~ www.greendzn.com ~~
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How many seas must a white dove sail before
she can sleep in the sand? -- Bob Dylan
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