The shared evolution of the Tasmanian tiger and the wolf

phys.org

40 points·Hooke··4 comments

So-called 'junk DNA' may actually be the primary driver of diversity in animals and could be the key to understanding convergent evolution

This deserves a comment I don’t feel capable of writing right now.

Anyone want to try responding to that?

Junk DNA do not encode information (that we know of as of now) but seem to have the role that pragmas/annotations/compiler directives have in code.

Edit: for clarity

Or maybe I am thinking of epigenetics...

My understanding is: Initially it got it's name ("junk DNA") because it is not encoding proteins. But in the mean time we have long found out that it is nonetheless encoding vital information, like transcription factors, promotors, etc.! Hence, it's usually called non coding DNA now.

A little morbid - but if you are in the area (central London) I suggest a visit to the Grant Museum: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/grant-museum-zoology

They have a pickled Tasmanian tiger there, plus a complete skeleton. I've always been very interested in these creatures and this, sadly, is as close as you can get to one now.

It is a tiny museum, but well worth a visit - and if you ask nicely there are quite a few things that they will get out the cases for you to inspect. Be sure to chat to the team there, they have some amazing knowledge on the items.

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