The Myth of Junk DNA
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According to a number of leading proponents of Darwin's theory, "junk DNA"-the non-protein coding portion of DNA-provides decisive evidence for Darwinian evolution and against intelligent design, since an intelligent designer would presumably not have filled our genome with so much garbage. But in this provocative book, biologist Jonathan Wells exposes the claim that most of the genome is little more than junk as an anti-scientific myth that ignores the evidence, impedes research, and is based more on theological speculation than good science.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Given the rate at which new discoveries are being made about the human genome - and the amount we've yet to understand - this book is a much needed counter to some of the dismissive hand waving others indulge in. So long as you have a basic understanding of some of the biology, it is a relatively quick read. There is a useful glossary for the technical terms encountered in the text. It is also well referenced so that readers can check out the source material.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book effectively argues against the notion that DNA is largely made up of junk left behind by millions of years of evolutionary experimentation. It goes into recent research (right up to 2011) which has uncovered wonderfully complex functionality in stretches of DNA which for years had been assumed to be nothing more than evolutionary remnants. The situation is not unlike that of the supposed human vestigial organs. The coccyx was assumed to be the remains of a monkey's tail; but it is now known to provide an essential anchor point for our posture muscles as well as having a role in defecation. The developing human embryo appears to go through an evolutionary 'fish stage' when 'gills' appear, but these 'gills' are now known to be pharyngeal pouches which develop into the thymus gland, the parathyroids, and the middle ear canals. Of the 180 human organs once listed as vestigial, only a handful of dubious examples remain.
And so to the book; one of the examples Jonathan Wells gives is the so-called Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs). ERVs look like the remains of a pre-human viral infection, an impression strengthed by comparison of the DNA of different species. But recent research has shown some of these supposed lengths of junk DNA to have a highly complex physiological role, for example in placenta formation. As the author reports, new discoveries of function in 'functionless' DNA appear every week. The tide is going against junk DNA. It looks like it's going the way of vestigial organs!
And so to the book; one of the examples Jonathan Wells gives is the so-called Endogenous Retroviruses (ERVs). ERVs look like the remains of a pre-human viral infection, an impression strengthed by comparison of the DNA of different species. But recent research has shown some of these supposed lengths of junk DNA to have a highly complex physiological role, for example in placenta formation. As the author reports, new discoveries of function in 'functionless' DNA appear every week. The tide is going against junk DNA. It looks like it's going the way of vestigial organs!
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
So much waffle has been spouted about Junk DNA over the past years that it has become a "given" like man-made CO2 = The End Of The World. And, just like the anthropogenic CO2 argument, it has been affected by the Josef Göbbels principal. If you tell a large enough lie loud enough and often enough, most people will eventually believe it. Fortunately for the "most people" there are some people around who challenge the status quo and check things for themselves. Jonathan Wells is one such person. He checks ... And what he has found is that "Junk" DNA is nothing of the sort. What APPEARS to the unthinking observer to be permanently inactive can be observed by the THOROUGH scientist to be active occasionally. At these moments the DNA does the job it was designed to do and then effectively turns off and appears to the dilatory scientist once more to be mere junk. A light switch in a building with the power turned off might appear to be junk when first examined by a Martian but if said Martian was to wait until the circuit was activated and THEN press the switch, it would be seen to have a use. This book is not only informative, it is fun to read and this is a rare combination, entertaining AND educative. I have given him full marks as I did for Icons of Evolution ... because I can't see how anyone could improve on what he has written and he has made me challenge my own thinking and come out the other side of the experience a better - informed and hopefully, wiser person. Thoroughly recommended
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