More on the function of "junk" DNA

Not exactly a news post, but a blog on some recent research. I hope it qualifies. LinkEssentially what they've done is search for the sections of human DNA which show greater-than-normal differences from chimp DNA, that is, compared to that expected by random mutation and thus taken to be most likely to have undergone selection.47 of the 49 DNA segments they've identified occur in non-coding sections of DNA (junk DNA, as it is sometimes called). In particular, they identified a section HAR1 which occurs near sections coding for brain development, that has changed at 18 times base rate. The team are not sure what this section does but believe the RNA it produces is involved in switching other genes on and off.Interesting stuff.