Ok so my understanding is that junk DNA isn't junk and helps shape the DNA around it. Screw with the foundation, and the building begins to crumble.

Exactly. DNA is decoded on several levels depending on the purpose. The 3 dimensional structure of the DNA in each gene must have evolved due to some useful survival function.

You’re right. Much of junk DNA seems to help give our heterochromatin it’s structure, which then plays a role in epigenetics and gene expression.

That seems possible, it’s hard to know for sure. It likely has and continues to serve multiple functions. Non-coding RNA is another function that I didn’t mention.

The junk DNA gets jumbled up and basically randomized from generation to generation. If your speculation was true and it was implanted for us to uncover later then it would be highly corrupted by the many generations that were the offspring that came after it's insertion. It's mostly neutral genes that does not harm us or help us to the point of reaching the breeding age. Some of it is leftover DNA from viruses that infected cells that manufactured reproduction cells such as sperm or eggs. Those cells didn't die to the many viruses we have encountered over the years so they lived to tell the tail.

You’re operating under the assumption that the order of the nucleotides is important to decoding the information. For all we know, each individual nucleotide could be like its own file, right?

A nucleotide is just a single "bit" in computer speak. Insted of 1's and 0's think of them as two bits condensed into one where the two can be reversed and give a completely different input into the code weather or not its reversed or not. There are 4 possible combinations AT TA CG GC. Think of it as 10 01 23 32 where 2 and 3 represent the same function as 0's and 1's but as a different thing. It takes two nucleotides to make one "bit" of a gene therefore an individual nucleotide is a half bit and holds no valuable information.

Touché, that makes sense. What about small segments of RNA strands? Would that be a better comparison?

I honestly do not know much about RNA since I have not read into it that deeply but I mostly understand it as a backup copy of the DNA of the cell. Therefore if the junk DNA is corrupted then the back up of it is as well. Don't quote me on that though.

Someone’s been playing the new Assassin’s Creed game, haven’t they...

It’s central to the plot.

Hm. Interesting. They call it junk on purpose? So one day I'm spring cleaning the house, come across my junk DNA...eh when am I gonna use this? Toss it. I see it so clearly now!

The theory is man was "dumbed down" by deactivating much of their DNA. Perhaps psychic abilities, life longevity, likely our spiritual connections etc. The masses are easier to fool and control if they are basically mindless drones just following orders or the status quo.

They are comments in between the code to explain the purpose.

printf("This is a human"); //It is SO much more than just a human.

"Junk DNA" is just DNA we do not understand yet.

What if each of the layers of junk DNA is one lifetime of an organism we existed as, or the living matter comprising our bodies existed as, beginning as a single microbial organism and eventually becoming the complex idiots we are now?? This could explain the inheritance of ancestral fears and maybe even dreams don't you think?

It's from when we were fish.

Related, as yourself why humans have a fused chromosome, bringing our total to 23? An odd number of chromosomes is rare enough by itself. But we should, and did, have 24...what or who fused it? There is nothing natural about this.

23 pairs.... 46 total.

Anyone interested in this question should really, really read the book "The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge" by Jeremy Narby. Here's a free copy: https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2011/04/17/cosmicserp.pdf

He theorizes elaborately, after taking ayahuasca, about the role of our DNA. I think it stores information. I don't think it's saving anything for the future, it's just that modern scientists don't understand its function yet.

Ya'll make fun of AC

but what in the actual eff is a dream and what is instinct? Thats where the whole animus machine idea comes from. Just because the writers at ubisoft turned the animus into a plot device doesn't mean that memory viewing isn't possible.

I don't believe in reincarnation, but i believe people think they're reincarnations because of these vivid recalls. I know I had a vivid dream as a kid.

As a science-y way of exploring the possibility that theres something deeper to these past life traumas I wager that mental illness is the survivors stain.

History was violent as fuck, bloody too. Some survived their torturing, went on to have kids. The brain ensures our survival, this could be a way for the mind to prepare itself. Reshape the pathways in order to resemble your ancestors - who are ALL survivors, you wouldn't be here otherwise...

My toaster wasn’t working once.

Yea just like they can supposedly remove your spleen and gallbladder with minimal effect.

The breed of science we have today is closer to a religion they worship their own intellect and try to exert control over nature. They are horribly mistaken and ignorant.

These people are more on the level of car mechanics than true scientist, they think they can pull this part or add more of this to fix something. Fools.

When African lions were first brought to a Canadian safari park there was a concern about what they would have to do with them during the cold and snowy winters.

As it turned out, the lions, in response to their new and changed environment, all grew a heavy winter coat. An ability and something stored in their DNA that must have been there in some very distant past in a far colder climate and yet still maintained and still able to be activated after thousands of years on the hot plains of Africa.

So who's to say what long unused human adaptations might also be stored in that so-called "junk DNA" and that just might be re-activated by some serious changes and challenges we haven't seen or encountered for thousands of years?

I’ve heard it’s the result of our DNA being reduced from 12 strands to 2 strands.

DNA encodes not only proteins, but serves as a "docking port" for memetic spirits.

Basically without DNA, no consciousness, no language, no intention, no semiosis.

We have been over this several times I think, just look in my comment history. - - Also read this:

Deciphering Hidden DNA Meta-Codes -The Great Unification & Master Code of Biology

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/deciphering-hidden-dna-metacodes-the-great-unification--mastercode-of-biology-2153-0637-1000131.php?aid=55261

and this:

The DNA-wave-biocomputer:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228512478_The_DNA-wave-biocomputer

While the basis of your claim has merit since we recently were able to code the famous 'racing horse' video onto DNA and the FBI voiced interest in it (though let's be real, they already have it). But there is so much we're still learning about DNA, an example being that it is not a perfect helix and there are substructures within it. The 'junk' DNA, though, gives the misconception that it's concentrated in one area when in reality it's strewn about randomly in the genes that turn into proteins. These junk bits are removed during processing. The caveat being that the same gene can code for multiple proteins depending on what bits are removed. Also there's non-coding DNA in front of genes that encourages or discourages the processing of these genes, as well as DNA bits required to start replication of DNA.

TL;DR The junk DNA story is another example of science watered down by the media to make it more palatable.

I am a researcher in genetic algorithms. And the whole deal about this field is using evolution to solve problems. Maybe I can put a different perspective on junk DNAs.

Junk DNAs, are actually error correcting mechanisms. It means, although the actual genes responsible for it's phenotypic response are only used in a normal growth system, the junk DNAs help to keep things going even if there are mistakes in the sequencing process.

I like the theory that somewhere in that junk lies a secret message waiting to be deciphered

in actuality it's just DNA we have no idea what it does, virus hitchhiking (boosting immune system), deprecated DNA (nature loves this), and of course non-coding (or turned off).

DNA has turned out much more elusive than we thought

It would probably be stored as binary or mathematical information.

Ancient beings needed some way to backup their porn collection but were afraid all of the mediums would fail. They decided to store it in our DNA, so as long as humans exist they'll be able to restore their backups. We're all some giant RAID array with parity and mirroring.

Scientists find new DNA structure.

It’s central to the plot.