"Has a carnivorous plant proven that non-coding DNA is not essential, and thus that it is junk after all? Earlier we briefly explained why the claim is illogical, considering all the evidence to the contrary. Now let's take a closer look at the original paper and the ensuing media fallout.
First of all, this is not the only case of extreme size reduction in a genome. We know that some pathogenic microbes have extremely sparse genomes, presumably because they rely on their hosts.
Later, we see them stretching and shrinking the timing of events, mutation rates and evolution rates to maintain their assumption of common ancestry. On page 30, they have to overcome some evidence that appears to contradict the claim of three WGDs. The point is that their conclusions are highly dependent on the methods used to analyze the data.
Returning to the question of whether non-coding DNA is essential, the paper indicates that it's a complicated question how or why the bladderwort reduced its genome so dramatically compared with other plants. The reductions are in the nuclear DNA only; no significant reductions were found in mitochondrial DNA or plastid DNA. "Therefore, the evolutionary forces acting to reduce U. gibba genome size seem to have affected only the nucleus," they say. Additionally, some of bladderwort's protein families are enriched compared to other plants, and some are diminished. It's not a simple story. The conclusions about this genome don't leap out of the data. You might say, "Some assembly required."
Since bladderwort does not possess true stem, root, and leaf distinctions, it is possible that many genes required for their development are not needed. "Interestingly, contractions and losses in all of these root-expressed MADS box gene clades/subfamilies account for much of the global reduction of the MADS box gene family in U. gibba," the authors say. Other gene families are expanded, however; "it is tempting to speculate that specific clade expansions may be related to the genus-wide diversity of branching patterns in Utricularia," they write. Why are they omitting the possibility that this genus, while having much in common with other plants, is designed differently?" ENV
First of all, this is not the only case of extreme size reduction in a genome. We know that some pathogenic microbes have extremely sparse genomes, presumably because they rely on their hosts.
Later, we see them stretching and shrinking the timing of events, mutation rates and evolution rates to maintain their assumption of common ancestry. On page 30, they have to overcome some evidence that appears to contradict the claim of three WGDs. The point is that their conclusions are highly dependent on the methods used to analyze the data.
Returning to the question of whether non-coding DNA is essential, the paper indicates that it's a complicated question how or why the bladderwort reduced its genome so dramatically compared with other plants. The reductions are in the nuclear DNA only; no significant reductions were found in mitochondrial DNA or plastid DNA. "Therefore, the evolutionary forces acting to reduce U. gibba genome size seem to have affected only the nucleus," they say. Additionally, some of bladderwort's protein families are enriched compared to other plants, and some are diminished. It's not a simple story. The conclusions about this genome don't leap out of the data. You might say, "Some assembly required."
Since bladderwort does not possess true stem, root, and leaf distinctions, it is possible that many genes required for their development are not needed. "Interestingly, contractions and losses in all of these root-expressed MADS box gene clades/subfamilies account for much of the global reduction of the MADS box gene family in U. gibba," the authors say. Other gene families are expanded, however; "it is tempting to speculate that specific clade expansions may be related to the genus-wide diversity of branching patterns in Utricularia," they write. Why are they omitting the possibility that this genus, while having much in common with other plants, is designed differently?" ENV
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:12
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| Bladderwort distribution |
