Scientists long assumed that new genes appear when evolution tinkers with old ones. There are studies suggesting that genes do not always evolve from existing ones, as biologists long supposed. Instead, some are fashioned from desolate stretches of the genome that do not code for any functional molecules. For example in the fish genomes, there are hints that this might be the case: the antifreeze protein — essential to the cod’s survival — has seemingly been built from scratch. (1)
In other news, a research group has discovered a novel cancer-driving mutation in the vast non-coding regions of the human cancer genome, also known as the ‘dark matter’ of human cancer DNA. (2)
Funny, but (philosophically) totally expected.
It is not the useful which produces something useful.
Look from a distance and you will see.
Everything is useless. Until they are useful in some way.
Everything is useful. Until they stop being such.
Stop defining something from its results.
And you will see light even in the deepest darkness…
