After summarizing this research, Futurepundit then predicts that people will use genetic engineering to strip junk DNA from their genomes. The appeal is obvious–why slow ourselves down with all that seemingly useless DNA? Why not use some of that space for new and improved genes that let us live for centuries or become smart enough to read the new Medicare bill over breakfast? There are also arguments for getting rid of junk DNA that Futurepundit doesn’t mention. When mobile elements jump around to new homes, they can trigger diseases as they mutate the genome.

Junk-free genomes may indeed become possible in the future, but they’re probably not a wise idea. Even if junk DNA doesn’t benefit us in any obvious way,