‘Junk DNA’ has value for roundworms
Some germline genes in C. elegans get license to operate from genomic ‘watermarks’
NO ALIENS ALLOWED Roundworms (C. elegans) have to fight off foreign DNA while protecting its own genes that will be passed to the next generation. Some bits of “junk DNA” — called PATCs — may help. PATCs help keep the worms’ own genes active while alien genes are turned off.
C. Frøkjær-Jensen et al/Cell 2016