News Genetics

A key to the mystery of fast-evolving genes was found in ‘junk DNA’

New study turns evolutionary dogma on its head by finding that essential genes can evolve fast 

heterochromatin

Heterochromatin (shown in green) was once thought of as inert "junk DNA" due to its lack of genes, but now scientists are discovering it has some very important roles.

Jose Luis Calvo/Science Source

By Monique Brouillette

- More than 2 years ago

A long-standing puzzle in evolution is why new genes — ones that seem to arise out of nowhere — can quickly take over functions essential for an organism’s survival.