Nature Paper Shows "Junk-RNA" Going the Same Direction as "Junk-DNA"

[buffalo]

Nature Paper Shows “Junk-RNA” Going the Same Direction as "Junk-DNA"

When large-scale function was detected for non-coding DNA (once called “junk” DNA) Darwinists, knowing that their viewpoint had long boasted that junk-DNA was evidence for common ancestry and that they were losing that argument, responded in one of two ways: Some sought to rewrite history by claiming that evolutionary biology predicted all along that we’d find function for junk-DNA. Others, however, pushed the “junk” back to RNA. They effectively argued, “Sure, we know that most of the genome is being transcribed into RNA, but that doesn’t mean that the RNAs have function. Much of the transcriptome might in fact be junk.” Evolutionist biochemist Larry Moran, for example, argued that either “[t]he so-called transcripts are just noise from accidental transcription” or “[t]he regions of junk DNA could be transcribed regularly but the transcripts are rapidly degraded. They do not have a biological function. They are junk RNA.” Intelligent design (ID) proponents were quick to predict the demise of that argument, and if a recent paper in Nature is any indication, “junk RNA” may have the same fate as “junk DNA.”

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[The_Barbarian]

When large-scale function was detected for non-coding DNA (once called “junk” DNA) Darwinists, knowing that their viewpoint had long boasted that junk-DNA was evidence for common ancestry and that they were losing that argument, responded in one of two ways: Some sought to rewrite history by claiming that evolutionary biology predicted all along that we’d find function for junk-DNA.

That’s a testable claim. Let’s see…

**Cell. 1975 Feb;4(2):107-11

The general affinity of lac repressor for E. coli DNA: implications for gene regulation in procaryotes and eucaryotes.
Lin S, Riggs AD.

By equilibrium competition experiments, the dissociation constant (K(RD)) of lac repressor for E. coli DNA carrying a deletion of the lac operon was measured at a variety of salt concentrations. These data are used in the consideration of several aspects of protein-DNA interaction: Quantitative estimates of specificity are made. Specificity changes only slightly with salt concentration. We calculate that in vivo, 98 percent or more of repressor is bound to DNA predominately at sites other than the lac operator. Inducers shift repressor from operator to nonoperator DNA, but do not free it from DNA. The general affinity of repressor for E. coli DNA is sufficient to support a model where repressor slides along DNA for significant distances. The effective dissociation constant of repressor for operator (K(eff)) is very sensitive to the total DNA concentration. We propose that “junk” DNA in eucaryotes functions to maintain total DNA at an optimum concentration. We consider the lac operon in the nucleus of a lymphocyte, point out that severe difficulties would be encountered, and suggest possible solutions.**

About 35 years ago. When I was an undergrad in the 60s, geneticists were talking about the possible functions of non-coding DNA. “Junk” DNA was an informal term, not normally seen in papers.

Others, however, pushed the “junk” back to RNA. They effectively argued, “Sure, we know that most of the genome is being transcribed into RNA, but that doesn’t mean that the RNAs have function. Much of the transcriptome might in fact be junk.”

Like much non-coding DNA, much of it seems to have no function. Indeed, it’s hard to see how the broken human vitamin C gene has any function at all, or how an ancient viral intron has a function. Certainly the remains of telomers in the human #2 Chromosome have no function. They are broken and no longer signal “stop.” Indeed, if they worked, it would be a fatal flaw.

The “Junk DNA” and “Junk RNA” stories told by creationists are total fabrications. As you see, scientists knew that some of it was functional a long time ago. Remember, never ask Fidel Castro to explain capitalism to you.

People with an irrational hatred of things are likely to make up stories about those things.