2009 Grand Prize Winner for most egregious use of “junk DNA”

Research team finds important role for junk DNA

by Kitta MacPherson

Scientists have called it “junk DNA.” They have long been perplexed by these extensive strands of genetic material that dominate the genome but seem to lack specific functions. Why would nature force the genome to carry so much excess baggage?

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http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S24/28/32C04/index.xml?section=topstories