Human DNA is mostly trash, biologists say | New York Post – New York Post

At least 75 percent of our DNA is useless junk, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Houston calculated that only 10 to 15 percent of the human genome is functional, and definitely no more than 25 percent. That makes the remaining 75 to 90 percent of our genome junk useless matter that isnt toxic or harmful, its mostly just there. The study was recently published in Genome Biology and Evolution.

Biologists have argued for years about whether or not our DNA is mostly trash or mostly purposeful. A study conducted in 2012 stated that up to 80 percent of our DNA plays some role in making us who we are a claim that Dan Graur, lead author of the most recent study, hopes his findings will put to rest.

For 80 percent of the human genome to be functional, each couple in the world would have to beget on average 15 children and all but two would have to die or fail to reproduce, Graur told uh.edu.

Graurs research examines how mutations affect DNA. When mutations form in junk DNA, nothing happens. But when mutations form in functional DNA, they can be deadly. If a child inherits functional DNA with mutations, theyll likely die before being able to have children of their own this is how evolution ensures that lethal mutations dont build up and continue getting passed on.

So if the majority of our DNA were functional, we would be accumulating stacks of damaging mutations and need to maintain unrealistic birth rates to sustain the population. And this obviously isnt the case.

Graur told New Scientist that the aforementioned 2012 study spent $400 million on the research and wanted something big to say. Knowing the percentage of functional DNA is crucial to studying and curing diseases.

We need to know the functional fraction of the human genome in order to focus biomedical research on the parts that can be used to prevent and cure disease, Graur said. There is no need to sequence everything under the sun. We need only to sequence the sections we know are functional.

See more here:
Human DNA is mostly trash, biologists say | New York Post - New York Post