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What scientific fact blows your mind the most?
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2025
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Recent studies have it at closer to 92% 'junk' DNA, and 8% actively coding.
Also, a lot of non-coding DNA does actually serve other useful functions, it just doesn't actively code.
It could play a role in epigenetics, ie the regulation of what active coding sequences are active and when, it could be telomeres that prevent DNA strands from unravelling at the ends, it could be binding and scaffold sites that assist in the structural stability and integrity of the chromosome.
DNA can be functional, without being active-coding.
Only regions that are both non coding and also totally non functional are truly 'junk', but we keep consistently finding more ways that 'non functional' regions are actually functional.
8% coding DNA? Wow, that's quite a jump from the 2% coding and 5-10% conserved DNA that used to be cited. Full-genome sequencing has truly (metaphorically and literally) filled many gaps in the study of our genome...