“Junk” DNA Discovered to Have Both Cellular and Microevolutionary Functions

Evolution News & Views ^ | November 3, 2009 | Casey Luskin

[GodGunsGuts]

“Junk” DNA Discovered to Have Both Cellular and Microevolutionary Functions

Evolutionists have long sought mechanisms for the origin of reproductive barriers between populations, mechanisms which are thought to be key to the formation of new species. A recent article in ScienceDaily finds that “Junk DNA” might be the “mechanism that prevents two species from reproducing.” Basically, so-called “junk”-DNA is involved in helping to package chromosomes in the cell. If two species have different “junk” DNA, then this prevents the proteins in the egg from properly packaging the chromosomes donated by the sperm. The organism does not develop properly. As the article, titled “Junk DNA Mechanism That Prevents Two Species From Reproducing Discovered,” explains:

during early development, the proteins required for cell division come from the mother. The researchers speculate that the heterochromatin of the male D. melanogaster's X chromosome has rapidly evolved, such that after mating, the machinery involved in DNA packaging from a D. simulans mother no longer recognizes the D. melanogaster father's "junk" DNA, Ferree said.

Even though this study only looked at fruit fly non-coding DNA, the amount of non-coding DNA was enormous: “The problematic region of D. melanogaster's X chromosome contains about 5 million base pairs of DNA, while the same region of D. simulans' X chromosome contains only about 100,000 base pairs, a 50-fold difference.” It seems that “junk” DNA—long ignored by evolutionists—not only has key functions for chromosomal packaging but also for microevolutionary processes that help create reproductive isolation between populations.

[OldNavyVet]

The term “pseudogenes” (as in post 24) is probably better than calling them “junk genes.”

[dmz]

Please tell you did not actually attend Salem State.

I’m sorry, but the idea of you attending college where Christian authorities arrested, tried and convicted witches is just a little too rich for words. You’ve never really come out and said so, but I suspect you’d like to do that to us evo-atheists (nazi communist fascist God-denying monkey loving kickers of ugly poodles).

Please, now back to your regularly scheduled crevo wars.

I am trying not to chuckle at the idea that you got your biology information from a professor in the Sports, Leisure and Fitness department. Kind of like getting your Religious studies from a prof in the culinary arts department.

Anyway, as always, cheers.

[GodGunsGuts]

Go back and reread my reply a little more carefully, and the reason for my choice of PPTs will become crystal clear.

And no, I did not attend Salem State. I attended UC Santa Barbara...but again, you knew that already, did you not?

And no, I'm not interested in burning your average evo-atheist at the stake. By the same token, I have no objection to the Pinochet's of the world doing what must be done when violent revolutionary evolutionist takeovers are immanent.

[Mudtiger]

“That’s a formula triple G. The question was to explain it. How it happens. Where it happens. The intermediates, the steric hindrance forces that push conformational changes, catalysts, the required energy input to drive the reaction. You know - the details. Anyone can google up a formula.”

Why doesn't someone show their work on the details of how a fin turns into a leg. What specific mutations happened? How many? In what sequence? And why did each mutation generate such a survivability advantage that the poor creatures without the mutation went extinct while the mutated creatures survived? What was the specific environmental pressure accompanying each mutation that caused each of these mutations to have such as large advantage? Just how do mutations increase the information to change a fin into a leg? Just the formula: Fin + mutation + natural selection + billions of years = leg, explains nothing.

[rae4palin]

“The researchers speculate...”

[FormerRep]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[GodGunsGuts]

Niiiiccccceeeee!!! If you would like to be on the HMS Creation ping list, feel free to drop me a PM. You would most definitely be a welcome addition to the list :o)

All the best—GGG

[Mudtiger]

“Welcome to Free Republic.”

Thanks. Been a long time lurker. Really enjoy the political scene around here.

[tpanther]

I for one won’t be celebrating until he’s gone and I hope it’s sooner rather than later. I don’t wish him violence but I wouldn’t mind impeachment.

[tpanther]

“And who am I to question experts on ignorance”?

Or an aversion to design and intelligence.

[tpanther]

Why doesn’t someone show their work on the details of how a fin turns into a leg. What specific mutations happened? How many? In what sequence? And why did each mutation generate such a survivability advantage that the poor creatures without the mutation went extinct while the mutated creatures survived? What was the specific environmental pressure accompanying each mutation that caused each of these mutations to have such as large advantage? Just how do mutations increase the information to change a fin into a leg? Just the formula: Fin + mutation + natural selection + billions of years = leg, explains nothing.

---

Because liberals only demand, they never ever produce?

Hard to say, but there’s alot of that going on in these threads.

But that’s a great question, and far more relevant to the thread!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[tpanther]

My major was in biology. Then I joined the Air Force and became a medic. Then I became a hospice nurse.

And this is bringing back some memories! I remember this assignment. But in HS not college.

A better question would be to demonstrate the unequivocal demand that any of this occurs by means of unintelligent undesigned “natural” or “materialistic” means.

As someone pointed out, add the elements/compounds of carbon and water, ga-jillions of years and darwinian formulations and you come away with sheer conjecture.

[HospiceNurse]

As someone pointed out, add the elements/compounds of carbon and water, ga-jillions of years and darwinian formulations and you come away with sheer conjecture.

Offer a better scientific explaination.

[dmz]

And no, I did not attend Salem State. I attended UC Santa Barbara...but again, you knew that already, did you not?
______

Actually, no. Your academic credentials are not what I read these threads for. I know that it has come up before, you and some others as well, but I pay little attention to those kinds of things on anonymous internet forums. I tend to distrust personal information provided publically, but anonymously.

I do like how you hedge - “I’m not interested in burning your average evo-atheist at the stake” - which suggests that the extraordinary evo-atheists (the above average?) would need to be wary under a GGG administration.

[ElectricStrawberry]

It seems that “junk” DNA—long ignored by evolutionists—not only has key functions for chromosomal packaging but also for microevolutionary processes that help create reproductive isolation between populations.

Non-coding DNA has in no way been ignored by biologists.....hint....that's why there is, you know, scientific research discovering some of the purposes for some of the non-coding DNA.

More lies from the Discovery Institute...

[tpanther]

I already have, and so have dozens of scientists:

http://www.dissentfromdarwin.org

[HospiceNurse]

You posted dissent from Darwism. I asked for proof of ID.

[HospiceNurse]

You posted dissent from Darwism. I asked for proof of ID.

[tpanther]

That’s funny, I thought you asked for an alternative.

I’ve led you to it.