Junk RNA no more

-

"In terms of junk DNA (aka Junk RNA), we don’t use that term anymore because I think it was pretty much a case of hubris to imagine that we could dispense with any part of the genome, as if we knew enough to say it wasn’t functional. … Most of the genome that we used to think was there for spacer turns out to be doing stuff.”

- Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project



The journal article "Long non-coding RNA-mediated epigenetic response for abiotic stress tolerance in plants" by Magar et al. (2023) provides a comprehensive overview of the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in mediating epigenetic responses for abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The authors discuss the various mechanisms by which lncRNAs can regulate gene expression, epigenetic modifications, and responses to environmental stresses. They also highlight the potential of lncRNAs for developing climate-resilient crops.

Key takeaways from the article:

  • LncRNAs play a significant role in mediating epigenetic responses for abiotic stress tolerance in plants.

  • LncRNAs can regulate gene expression, epigenetic modifications, and responses to environmental stresses through a variety of mechanisms, including:

  • Acting as guides for DNA methyltransferases and histone modifiers

  • Interacting with chromatin remodeling complexes

  • Sequestering transcription factors

  • Competing with miRNAs for binding to target genes

  • LncRNAs can also play a role in plant stress memory, the ability of plants to remember previous stress experiences and respond more quickly and effectively to future stress challenges.

  • LncRNAs are a promising new target for developing climate-resilient crops. By understanding the mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate plant abiotic stress tolerance, scientists can develop strategies to manipulate lncRNA expression to improve plant stress tolerance.

The authors conclude by stating that "lncRNAs are emerging as key regulators of plant abiotic stress tolerance through epigenetic regulation. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs mediate epigenetic responses to abiotic stress. This knowledge will be essential for developing strategies to manipulate lncRNA expression to improve plant stress tolerance and develop climate-resilient crops."

Potential applications of lncRNAs for improving plant stress tolerance:

  • LncRNAs could be used to develop transgenic plants with improved stress tolerance.

  • LncRNAs could be used to identify and develop new agrochemicals that promote lncRNA expression or function.

  • LncRNAs could be used to develop biomarkers for early detection of stress in plants.

  • LncRNAs could be used to develop new breeding strategies for developing climate-resilient crops.

Overall, the journal article by Magar et al. (2023) provides a valuable overview of the role of lncRNAs in mediating epigenetic responses for abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The authors' insights and recommendations have the potential to guide future research and development of new strategies for improving plant stress tolerance.


The implications of the article challenges Neo-Darwinism in a number of ways.

First, it shows that plants can adapt to their environment without changes to their DNA sequence. This is because lncRNAs can regulate gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. This means that plants can develop new phenotypes in response to environmental changes without having to wait for NeoDarwinian genetic mutations to occur.

Second, the article shows that plants can transmit epigenetic information from one generation to the next. This means that plants can inherit the ability to tolerate abiotic stresses from their parents, even if the parents were not exposed to those stresses themselves. This is in contrast to Neo-Darwinism, which holds that all evolutionary change is driven by random genetic mutations and natural selection.

Third, the article shows that lncRNAs can play a role in stress memory. This means that plants can "remember" previous stress experiences and respond more quickly and effectively to future stress challenges. This is also in contrast to Neo-Darwinism, which does not account for the ability of organisms to learn and adapt over time.

Overall, the article "Long non-coding RNA-mediated epigenetic response for abiotic stress tolerance in plants" provides evidence that plants can adapt to their environment in ways that are not explained by Neo-Darwinism. This suggests that Neo-Darwinism may need to be modified or replaced to account for these new findings.

Here are some specific examples of how the article challenges Neo-Darwinism:

  • The lncRNA NIL2 is upregulated in response to salt stress and interacts with the DNA methyltransferase MET1 to repress the expression of the salt-responsive gene SOS1. This suggests that plants can develop salt tolerance without changes to their DNA sequence.

  • The lncRNA COOLAIR is upregulated in response to drought stress and represses the expression of the flowering gene FLC. This suggests that plants can transmit epigenetic information from one generation to the next, as COOLAIR can be inherited from parents and influence the flowering time of offspring.

  • The lncRNA COLDAIR is upregulated in response to cold stress and interacts with the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to repress the expression of the flowering gene FLC. This suggests that plants can learn and adapt to their environment over time, as COLDAIR can help plants to flower earlier in cold climates.

These are just a few examples of the article that challenges  Neo-Darwinism. Further research on the role of lncRNAs in plant adaptation is likely to lead to new insights into how plants evolve and respond to their environment.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

No, the EES is not just a add on to Neo-Darwinism aka the Modern Synthesis

-
Image
" The summary of the state of affairs on the 150th anniversary of the Origin is somewhat shocking: in the post-genomic era, all major tenets of the Modern Synthesis fthe theory of evolution) are, if not outright overturned replaced by a new and incomparably more complex vision of the key aspects of evolution (EES). So, not to mince words , the Modern Synthesis is gone" -Eugene Koonin, an evolutionary biologist (Cited by over 270,000 evolutionary scientists.) The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) represents a significant departure from the traditional neo-Darwinian framework, also known as the Modern Synthesis . While both theories aim to explain evolutionary change, they differ fundamentally in their underlying mechanisms and the roles they assign to various biological processes. A crucial point of divergence lies in the interpretation and application of the term " evolutionary ," particularly concerning the incorporation of epigenetic mechanisms....
Read more

Is the random mutational model of evolution on its way out?

-
Image
While the random mutational model of evolution has long been a cornerstone of evolutionary biology, the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) and the study of epigenetics are challenging its core assumptions. The Random Mutational Model and Its Limitations The traditional view of evolution, often called the Modern Synthesis or neo-Darwinism , emphasizes random genetic mutations as the primary source of variation. Natural selection then acts upon this variation, favoring individuals with advantageous traits. This model has been successful in explaining some evolutionary phenomena, but it also has limitations: It struggles to explain complex adaptations: The idea that complex features like the eye or the immune system arose solely through random mutations seems statistically improbable. It overlooks the role of the environment: The traditional model treats the environment as a selective force, but it doesn't fully consider how organisms can actively respond to and s...
Read more

Natural Selection has not been accurately measured since Darwin

-
Image
Francis Crick's term "frozen accident" falsely described the seeming rigidity of the genetic code, its apparent inability to accommodate additional amino acids beyond the standard 20. This observation had puzzled scientists for decades, as the genetic code seems to have reached a plateau in its expansion despite the potential for incorporating new amino acids with novel properties. NeoDarwinian thinking reasoned greater natural selection could occur with more codons. Several hypotheses were put forward to explain this apparent standstill in the genetic code's evolution. Crick and others  eventually applied natural selection to think redundant codons were neutral as to account for neutral selection . The question of why the genetic code stopped incorporating new amino acids remained a fascinating topic in evolutionary biology till Cas9 Crispr. The redundancy of codons, where multiple codons can specify the same amino acid, has long been considered a neutr...
Read more