For decades after the identification of the structure of DNA, scientists
focused only on genes, the regions of the genome that contain codes for
the production of proteins. Other regions that make up 98 percent of the
human genome were dismissed as "junk," sequences that serve no purpose.
But researchers have recently discovered variations and modulations in
this junk DNA that are involved with a number of intractable diseases.
Our increasing knowledge of junk DNA has led to innovative research and
treatment approaches that may finally ameliorate some of these
conditions.
Junk DNA can play vital and unanticipated roles in the control of gene
expression, from fine-tuning individual genes to switching off entire
chromosomes. These functions have forced scientists to revisit the very
meaning of the word "gene" and have engendered a spirited scientific
battle over whether or not this genomic "nonsense" is the source of
human biological complexity. Drawing on her experience with leading
scientific investigators in Europe and North America, Nessa Carey
provides a clear and compelling introduction to junk DNA and its
critical involvement in phenomena as diverse as genetic diseases, viral
infections, sex determination in mammals, and evolution. We are only now
unlocking the secrets of junk DNA, and Nessa Carey's book is an
essential resource for navigating the history and controversies of this
fast-growing, hotly disputed field.
