Dmitri Petrov examines fruit flies as part of experiments to learn why simple creatures such as amoebas sometimes have more genetic material than complex organisms like college professors. Photo by Jon Chase |
Why onions have more DNA than you doParadox has vexed scientists since discovery of DNAFebruary 10, 2000It would seem logical that more complex organisms would need more DNA to survive and reproduce. But that's not the case. An onion, for instance, has more than 12 times as much DNA as a Harvard professor. "This paradox has vexed scientists since the discovery of DNA about 45 years ago," notes Dmitri Petrov of Harvard University's Society of Fellows. Not all DNA, however, is useful. "Junk DNA" does not actively affect natural selection. That's why onions and amoebas have so much more DNA than humans. |
