The RNA Conductome

Over the years, scientists and drug companies seeking genetic control over biological systems have focused their attention on proteins. But that's only one part of the picture: Recently, scientists have been accumulating evidence that non-protein-coding sequences often play the role of conductor in the body's response: it's a kind of "conductome". Now this information is becoming encyclopedic, and it is calling into question everything we thought we knew about the so-called functional genome.

In the following pages, we illustrate the roles of microRNAs - the small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by interfering with messenger RNA function - in biological systems. We also present a controversial new definition of the functional genome from John Mattick, based at the University of Queensland, who argues that so-called junk DNA provides the intricate instructions for regulating the functions of complex organisms.

Here's some of what we know so far.

www.24hoursnews.blogspot.com for more detail

Editor-in-Chief Richard Gallagher, Science Writer Melissa Lee Phillips, the entire Science Staff of The Scientist and of course Dr. John Mattick deserve heartfelt congratulations for this masterful "triplet"; doing away with the "Junk DNA concept" in an exemplary manner.

This triplet is likely to become the "gold standard" of brilliantly effective communication, simultaneously at any/all levels, in the middle of an unprecedented revolution of science & technology.

The three pillars are mutually supportive and allow the reader to surf through the delightful illustrations that most anybody can understand, as well as for experts to plunge into the deepest core of scientific knowledge presented with his hallmark of elegance by one of the best known and best accomplished pioneers, Dr. Mattick (complete with references).

It is hoped that The Scientist has just captured leadership, on a permanent basis, by this historical "triplet" the rank of "most eminent communicator of the scientific & technological revolution of Post-ENCODE Genomics" (called by the organization that in 2006 was first to formally abandon the "Junk DNA misnomer" as a scientific term, "PostGenetics"; www.postgenetics.org).

Unquestionably, communication of entirely new concepts (especially mathematical ones) that must replace a slew of axioms that are proven to be obsolete dogma, will be extremely taxing for the media.

It is an utter delight to see from this spectacular set of articles that the goal is more than realistic to attain - it can be done in a truly masterful way.

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