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Functionality of extra DNA

It is now known that as much as 98% of the DNA in a genome is not directly involved in the production of proteins (see cartoon below). This non-coding DNA was originally termed "junk DNA," as it was thought to serve no purpose.

 However, current thinking is that some at lest of the non-genic DNA does have a function, including structural stability (helping stabilize the DNA molecule) and affecting the level of gene expression (Andolfatto, 2005). Much ongoing research is now focusing on "junk" DNA.

Slide 21
Cartoon from 2001 Genome Research Limited (GRL), http://www.yourgenome.org/primer/all/
For a good review, see: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-07/cshl-lcg071205.php
See also: Andolfatto, 2005