What to Know About the Genetic 'Junk' That Makes Us Human

Nov. 2, 2021 -- We are 98.8% akin to chimpanzees successful our DNA, but we are inactive a antithetic species. Within that remaining 1.2%, a cardinal DNA series erstwhile thought of arsenic junk mightiness unlock our quality uniqueness.

Using stem cells coaxed into becoming neurons, researchers person identified a cistron that distinguishes quality nervus cells from chimpanzee nervus cells. They besides recovered that a series of DNA erstwhile considered “junk” has full power implicit this human-specific gene.

Only astir 2% of our DNA sequences incorporate the codes for gathering proteins. Biologists often person focused connected these regions successful comparing our DNA with that of different species. But the remaining 98% that doesn’t encode protein-making instructions isn’t junk and has important functions.

These researchers recovered that the noncoding series regulates a cistron that’s important successful quality encephalon development. In their findings, published successful Cell Stem Cell, this cistron was particularly progressive successful the beforehand of the processing brain, wherever humans and chimps disagree substantially. The noncoding DNA series controls however the cistron is used.

This uncovering adds a measurement to the series of events for making a human brain, giving researchers adjacent much to bash successful the hunt to recognize however we disagree from our closest cousins. Grasping what makes america uniquely quality could uncover caller insights into conditions that lone humans experience, specified arsenic schizophrenia.