The Junk DNA Preservation Society

Futurepundit has an interesting post based on a new paper about so-called junk DNA. Only 2% or so of the human genome actually encodes protein sequences. The rest is a grab-bag of broken genes and virus-like sequences called mobile elements that hijack the cell's DNA copying-machinery from time to time and insert new copies of themselves back into the genome. A pair of scientists have come up with some ideas about why organisms like us have junk-rich genomes, while bacteria have barely any. I was going to post on it until pre-Thanksgiving business overwhelmed me. After summarizing this research, Futurepundit then predicts that people will use genetic engineering to strip junk DNA from their genomes. The appeal is obvious--why slow ourselves down with all that seemingly useless DNA? Why not use some of that space for new and improved genes that let us live for centuries or become smart enough ...