Junk DNA, key to evolution
2006/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
The genetic material called garbage DNA is of great importance in the conservation of the genetic integrity of an organism and in the evolution of species. To this conclusion the biologists of the University of California have arrived after analyzing in depth the genome of the vinegar fly.
If we compare the genomes of several species, it is noteworthy that in the genes there is no expected difference between species, such as the vinegar fly, a worm and man are more equal than expected. However, in junk DNA there are great differences. Researchers have studied the garbage DNA of the vinegar fly and it seems that it is evolving slower than expected because natural selection is opposed to saving mutations.
According to the researchers, this means that for the species it is important to maintain residual DNA. They also consider that the evolution of new species is strongly influenced by junk DNA. Until now, the differences between species were considered as a result of the evolution of proteins. Research, for its part, allows us to think that the changes that occur in the regulation of genes are the key and, therefore, that what happens in junk DNA is of vital importance.
