Page 225 - If Darwin Had Known about DNA

Adnan Oktar

223

In the messenger RNA that carries the regarded as a "complex mix of different
copy of the DNA, there are two main DNA, much of which are vital to the life
parts: the protein-coding parts known of the cell." 1
as the exons and those parts that do not The report also states that as the func-
code proteins, known as the introns. tions of introns are revealed, they may
Introns, whose functions have only re- possibly be used as tumor markers in
cently begun to be understood, are long the treatment of cancer. Findings of a
DNA strips. These parts on the mes- direct correlation between changes in
senger RNA that do not encode protein introns and the emergence of cancer
are extracted by the cutting enzymes. are a sign of introns' vital importance to
Discovered in 1977, introns were first human life.
referred to as "intervening genes" since
they intervene in those parts that do en- 1- R. Nowak, "Mining Treasures from 'Junk DNA',"
code protein. According to an article in Science, 1994, Vol. 263, p. 608; Jerry Bergman,
Science magazine, "Mining Treasures "The Functions of Introns: From Junk DNA to
from 'Junk DNA'," introns are currently Designed DNA", 18 November 2001;
http://www.rae.org/introns.html

INTRON
EXON 1 (Non-protein coding parts of DNA) EXON 2
(Protein coding (Protein coding
parts of DNA) parts of DNA)

Cutting Region Cutting Region
INTRON
EXON 1 EXON 2

Cutting enzymes known
as spliceosomes go into
action.

EXON 1 EXON 2
The part that is extracted and that does
not enter into protein coding - the in-
tron - used to be thought of, out of ig-
norance, we junk, though it is now Spliceosome enzymes cut out and ex-
known to occupy a very important tract those parts that do not enter into
place. protein coding - the introns. Those
components left over after the cutting
- the exons - are then added on to one
another.

EXON 1 EXON 2