Comments on: Under three layers of junk, the secret to a fatal brain disease http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: cicely http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14592 cicely Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:53:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14592 i'm confused about the use of "anorexia" here refusing to eat doesn't qualify for a diagnosis of anorexia without the attendant body image issues. children under 1 wouldn't have a developed sense of body neither does vomiting, which when self induced, falls under the umbrella of bulemia i’m confused about the use of “anorexia” here

refusing to eat doesn’t qualify for a diagnosis of anorexia without the attendant body image issues. children under 1 wouldn’t have a developed sense of body

neither does vomiting, which when self induced, falls under the umbrella of bulemia

]]> By: TR Gregory http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14591 TR Gregory Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:31:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14591 Excellent job, as usual. It is refreshing to read a piece about an interesting study that eschews the standard cliches ("it's not junk after all!") in favour of a much more interesting treatment of the complex nature of the genome. @JW -- I don't think there's any one book that focuses primarily on these topics in an accessible way. Maybe Ed and I should collaborate on one. :-) Excellent job, as usual. It is refreshing to read a piece about an interesting study that eschews the standard cliches (“it’s not junk after all!”) in favour of a much more interesting treatment of the complex nature of the genome.

@JW — I don’t think there’s any one book that focuses primarily on these topics in an accessible way. Maybe Ed and I should collaborate on one. :-)

]]> By: JW http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14590 JW Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:45:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14590 I find this kind of stuff fascinating (junk DNA, jumping genes, viral genes that have been incorporated into our genomes, etc.) Can anyone recommend a good recent book on these topics, aimed at a semi-layman? (I am a scientist, but work far outside this field) I find this kind of stuff fascinating (junk DNA, jumping genes, viral genes that have been incorporated into our genomes, etc.) Can anyone recommend a good recent book on these topics, aimed at a semi-layman? (I am a scientist, but work far outside this field)

]]> By: Jessica http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14589 Jessica Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:02:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14589 Just wanted to help keep things correct here-- "herself" in the second to last paragraph should be "himself." Just wanted to help keep things correct here– “herself” in the second to last paragraph should be “himself.”

]]> By: amphiox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14588 amphiox Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:48:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14588 One can think of the "junk" DNA as a Tinker's backyard junk-pile. Some of the junk is repurposed into things with uses, but most of the time one can still tell by looking at it that it is still (or was) made from junk, and not manufactured de novo. One can think of the “junk” DNA as a Tinker’s backyard junk-pile. Some of the junk is repurposed into things with uses, but most of the time one can still tell by looking at it that it is still (or was) made from junk, and not manufactured de novo.

]]> By: Clausentum http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14587 Clausentum Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:37:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14587 The reference to the onion is good, but it misses the point (explained in the link) that onions from the same genus can also have about 5x variation in the size of their genomes (due to "junk" DNA). This is perhaps more significant that the difference between onions and humans. The reference to the onion is good, but it misses the point (explained in the link) that onions from the same genus can also have about 5x variation in the size of their genomes (due to “junk” DNA).

This is perhaps more significant that the difference between onions and humans.

]]> By: Cathy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14586 Cathy Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:59:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14586 I don't think of it so much as junk as I do "background details." Think of a beautiful landscape painting - there's a small subject in one of the lower thirds (think of a swan), and then the rest is all background paint. The background is clearly not as important as the subject, but if the canvas is damaged or the paint is chipped, some critical details might be gone from the painting, rendering it incomplete and unfinished. What if, for example, the missing portion of the painting held the hunter that was about to shoot the swan? I don’t think of it so much as junk as I do “background details.” Think of a beautiful landscape painting – there’s a small subject in one of the lower thirds (think of a swan), and then the rest is all background paint. The background is clearly not as important as the subject, but if the canvas is damaged or the paint is chipped, some critical details might be gone from the painting, rendering it incomplete and unfinished. What if, for example, the missing portion of the painting held the hunter that was about to shoot the swan?

]]> By: Arvin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/03/12/under-three-layers-of-junk-the-secret-to-a-fatal-brain-disease/#comment-14585 Arvin Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:52:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=6548#comment-14585 Cool!! You mentioned Mauritius!! That's one of the very rate times I see this mention on such websites/blogs And what's better... we are celebrating Independence Day today... How cool!! Happy 44th Independence Day to Us :) Cool!! You mentioned Mauritius!! That’s one of the very rate times I see this mention on such websites/blogs

And what’s better… we are celebrating Independence Day today… How cool!!

Happy 44th Independence Day to Us :)

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