The following information about 'junk DNA' is submitted for further review.
en.wikipedia.org...
Hypotheses of origin and function
There are some hypotheses, none conclusively established, for how junk DNA arose and why it persists in the genome:
Junk DNA might provide a reservoir of sequences from which potentially advantageous new genes can emerge. In this way, it may be an important genetic
basis for evolution.[10]
Some junk DNA could be spacer material that allows enzyme complexes to form around functional elements more easily. In this way, the junk DNA could
serve an important function even though the actual sequence of information it contains is irrelevant.
Some portions of junk DNA could serve presently unknown regulatory functions, controlling the expression of certain genes during the development of an
organism from embryo to adult[11], and/or development of certain organs/organelles[12].
Regulatory layers in some "junk DNA", such as through non-coding RNAs, may contain important genetic programming.[13]
According to a comparative study of over 300 prokaryotic and over 30 eukaryotic genomes [14], eukaryotes appear to require a minimum amount of
non-coding DNA. This minimum amount can be predicted using a growth model for regulatory genetic networks, implying that it is required for regulatory
purposes. In humans the predicted minimum is about 5% of the total genome.
Absolutely amazing stuff, I think. When you consider the size and scope of the Human Genome Project, the fact that they cannot process the last 8% of
our blueprint opens the door to many possibilities.