http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetic_inheritance#DNA_methylation_and_chromatin_remodeling
The DNA sites where methylation can occur are rare, except in the regions where gene transcription occurs... which generally supports what I was saying about coding regions. However it is certainly possible that a different (as yet undiscovered) enzyme could methylate a different section of DNA that has no correlation at all with transcription. The key point is that it's certainly possible in principle to have some kind of signaling mechanism that uses junk DNA as a substrate, and which can be inherited epigenetically. It doesn't seem likely that methylation (as we know it) fits the bill, so probably Richard would require an as yet unknown mechanism for switching junk DNA. --- On Wed, 12/3/08, Ben Goertzel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Junk DNA doesn't code for protein, but it seems to carry > out various > control functions over the protein synthesis and > interaction > processes, no? > > ben g > > On Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 4:02 PM, Terren Suydam > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Possibly... it has been shown with methylation. But I > think the mechanism you're proposing could not involve > methylation because (someone can correct me if wrong) > methylation is only applicable to coding regions (methyl > group only added to specific DNA sequences that mark the > gene). That's not to say another switching mechanism on > non-coding regions could not also be heritable (i.e., > reproduced in the copied DNA strand). > > > > Using DNA switches (such as methylation) is more > tractable than DNA rewriting, but again, the amount of > information storage is the limiting factor. Indeed, > switching on and off sections of DNA implies a big reduction > in information capacity (as compared to DNA rewriting), > since gene switching applies to sections of DNA. I wonder > how much memory would you expect to be able to pass on > through this mechanism? > > > > Also, you would need to propose the mechanism by which > this form of storage would be "read". Since junk > DNA by definition doesn't code for anything, by what > mechanism would these switches have an effect on cellular, > neural, or otherwise cognitive processes? > > > > Terren > > > > --- On Wed, 12/3/08, Richard Loosemore > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Ah, hang on folks: what I was meaning was that > the *state* > >> of the junk DNA was being used, not the code. > >> > >> I am referring to the stuff that is dynamically > >> interacting, as a result of which genes are > switched on and > >> off all over the place .... so this is a gigantic > network of > >> switches. > >> > >> I wouldn't suggest that something is snipping > and > >> recombining the actual code of the > "junk" DNA, > >> only that the state of the switches is being used > to code > >> for something. > >> > >> Question is: can the state of the switches be > preserved > >> during reproduction? > >> > >> > >> > >> Richard Loosemore > >> > >> > >> ------------------------------------------- > >> agi > >> Archives: > https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now > >> RSS Feed: > https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ > >> Modify Your Subscription: > >> https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; > >> Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------- > > agi > > Archives: > https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now > > RSS Feed: > https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ > > Modify Your Subscription: > https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; > > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com > > > > > > -- > Ben Goertzel, PhD > CEO, Novamente LLC and Biomind LLC > Director of Research, SIAI > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > "I intend to live forever, or die trying." > -- Groucho Marx > > > ------------------------------------------- > agi > Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now > RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ > Modify Your Subscription: > https://www.listbox.com/member/?&; > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: https://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=120640061-aded06 Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
