With the publication of over 30 papers last week from the ENODE project, it has become clear that a large part of the human genome plays a role in our cells. In the last few years, many findings were showing that some of the non coding regions (99% of the genome) were involved in regulating the genes (the 1% coding part of the genome) but nobody expected the ENCODE project's claim that 80% of the genome plays some part - whether this ends up being an exaggeration or not, I think we have a paradigm shift in our understanding of the genome.
The San Francisco Chronicle covered the news in its front page
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/DNA-Junk-Now-Seen-as-Complex-Switches-3843289.php
The NY Times also gave it good coverage
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/science/far-from-junk-dna-dark-matter-proves-crucial-to-health.html?_r=0
For a complete technical coverage check out
www.nature.com/encode
Nature has also put a free iPad app in the Apple Store. Check out the video recording - it gives a good overview of the Encode project as well as the results.
The San Francisco Chronicle covered the news in its front page
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/DNA-Junk-Now-Seen-as-Complex-Switches-3843289.php
The NY Times also gave it good coverage
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/science/far-from-junk-dna-dark-matter-proves-crucial-to-health.html?_r=0
For a complete technical coverage check out
www.nature.com/encode
Nature has also put a free iPad app in the Apple Store. Check out the video recording - it gives a good overview of the Encode project as well as the results.
