quote:
For my part I think the Junk DNA claim is just an old argument from ignorance.
Your position might have some validity if the conclusion of "junk DNA" has no basis other than, "Gosh, dunno what this does, it must be junk." In fact, however, that's not the case.
This letter to
Nature describes an experiment involving the deletion of over 2,300 non-coding intervals from mice DNA with no apparent effect on the mice.
Now, I will grant you that there was no
apparent effect, and one may yet be found. But of course, that will always be the case in any experiment of this sort, at least until our understanding of the functioning of DNA is more sophisticated. However, even you must concede that this experiment provides evidence for the existence of "junk DNA" beyond just not knowing what something does.
What's more, I found this in about 30 seconds. Thus, one might suppose that there's more such evidence out there. One might also suppose that your conclusion was based on zero time researching the matter, but, perhaps, simply your wishing and hoping it were so. In any event, I hope that for your part, you now understand that it's more than just an argument from ignorance.
Ridicule is the only weapon which can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is the mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. -- Thomas Jefferson
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers. -- Barack Obama
We see monsters where science shows us windmills. -- Phat