Tell tale signs within us - DNA
Discussion
An interesting story here - that ought to be considered by those who deny evolution and won't believe that, for example, we evolved from primate ancestors shared by other animals
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1780...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1780...
Bedazzled said:
Article said:
Astonishingly, only 1.5% of the genetic material in our cells codes for human life. Half of the rest is sometimes described as "junk DNA" with no known function, and the other half consist of genes introduced by viruses and other parasites.
I don't know enough about how viruses work to really follow the article, but that bit's incredible. Sounds like we need to run a registry cleanup tool on our own DNA! 
Shaolin said:
The "silent" DNA has always been a puzzle, quite an amazing idea that it's a code-only non-physical (other than DNA) virus that can only be inherited and not contracted.
It could be a very valuable tool for revealing evolutionary family trees.
Yes, I was thinking along similar lines - being involved in a v. interesting and world wide gene study on my family - and is why I mentioned the anti-evolution brigade (or the world is 4000 years old types) in the initial post. Really ought to give some of those people pause for thought.It could be a very valuable tool for revealing evolutionary family trees.
Lost_BMW said:
and is why I mentioned the anti-evolution brigade (or the world is 4000 years old types) in the initial post. Really ought to give some of those people pause for thought.
I fear they will say 'God put them there'. God is a great answer; it's the expanding filler of philosophy. Fills all known cracks.Lost_BMW said:
An interesting story here - that ought to be considered by those who deny evolution and won't believe that, for example, we evolved from primate ancestors shared by other animals
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1780...
You can get the same effect by using the A1079 from Hull to York. Anyone making that journey no longer believes in intelligent design.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-1780...
Simpo Two said:
He didn't just pour me a gin and tonic. I did that. And if God did do it, ergo I am God.
It's a big part but I'll do my best
Our Father, Simpo Two, please grant me an interesting collection of Grp B and Grp C racing cars for weekend fun. I'll leave the detail up to you, what with you being all seeing and that. It's a big part but I'll do my best
Lost_BMW said:
Simpo Two said:
Lost_BMW said:
Is there anything God didn't do?!
He didn't just pour me a gin and tonic. I did that. And if God did do it, ergo I am God.It's a big part but I'll do my best
Use Psychology said:
I wonder if we could genetically and engineer human cells without junk DNA and then grow a person without any, that'd be interesting
Would cell division be speeded up as there's less DNA to replicate? Not sure if this would make him better able to deal with disease, or merely die sooner!Use Psychology said:
I wonder if we could genetically and engineer human cells without junk DNA and then grow a person without any, that'd be interesting
Junk DNA is a phrase born out of scientific hubris and it's unlikely you'd live long without it. NS article on on what junk dna actually does..As for the god botherers, I see your DNA and raise you XNA.....Who's your god now?
some viruses integrate their genome into ours in order to replicate - if genes, origins of replication etc get mutated then the virus can no longer be made so the DNA is most likely to become junk.
Bedazzled said:
I don't know enough about how viruses work to really follow the article, but that bit's incredible. Sounds like we need to run a registry cleanup tool on our own DNA!
R300will said:
Lost_BMW said:
Simpo Two said:
I fear they will say 'God put them there'. God is a great answer; it's the expanding filler of philosophy. Fills all known cracks.
Is there anything God didn't do?!
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff