Flesh-Eating Plant Cleaned Junk From Its Minimalist Genome

How much of your DNA actually does something useful? Of the 3 billion letters that make up your genome, we know that only 1.5 percent consists of genes, which carry the instructions for making proteins. Of the remaining 98.5 percent, some sequences affect how, when and where our genes are used, but the vast majority have no obvious roles. They contain the corpses of dead genes, parasitic strings of selfish DNA that have run amok, and other bits that seem to do nothing. You might call them junk.

So, what would happen if you got rid of it? If you stripped all these “non-coding” sequences from the human genome, would you still get a normal, living person? This experiment will always

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet