The Secret of Junk DNA: Study Confirms Human Genome is ‘Product of Evolution’ – Sputnik International

Tech

19:13 22.07.2017 Get short URL

A new study reveals at least three quarters of human genome is comprised of the so called junk DNA, seemingly confirming the fact that the human genome is the product of evolution and therefore not artificially created by some outside intelligent force.

Dan Graur, Professor ofthe Department ofBiology & Biochemistry atthe University ofHouston and author ofthe study, told Radio Sputnik that his research was based onthe work ofthe late Herman Muller, geneticist and Nobel laureate who created the concept ofthe mutation load.

"The mutation load essentially means that every functional part inyour body or inyour genome can experience changes that will be bad forthem. Like inlife, every functional entity, if left unchecked, will deteriorate and cease working you cannot leave your television onand expect that ina million years it will still work. The enemies ofgenes are mutations, and the vast majority ofmutations that happen inthe functional portion ofthe genome are deleterious," he explained.

According toGraur, humanity overcomes this problem by making more children toreplace the population size, thus compensating forthe loss ofpeople who die beforereaching the reproductive age.

"Now if the entire genome is functional, the number ofdeleterious mutations would be so great that it would require each person inthe world tohave more children thanthere are galaxies inthe universe So the only escape fromthis mutation load paradox is toassume that not the entire genome is functional, and according tomy calculations based onmutation rate and population size and genome size, the maximum that is possible tobe functional is about25 percent, more reasonably in-between 10 and 15," Graur said.

He also remarked that while his research is about "basic science" and that he doesnt care aboutits practical application, the study serves asproof that "our genomes are the product ofevolution."

"The main impact ofthis study is toshow that our genomes are the product ofevolution and not designed byan intelligent designer, because no intelligent designer would make anything so badly designed," Graur explained.

However, it also appears that it is this very large amount ofjunk DNA withinour genome is what makes us human, the scientist remarked.

"I suppose that if everything was functional, first ofall we wouldnt be human, so we would be something more similar tobacteria. We would be able tomultiply very rapidly and be able tosustain mutations. The only human who would have a 100-percent genome will be one inwhich mutations do not occur," Graur said, adding that it is unlikely tohappen duringhis lifetime.

Original post:
The Secret of Junk DNA: Study Confirms Human Genome is 'Product of Evolution' - Sputnik International