Oklahoma State University professor studies so-called junk DNA

Much of the research on our genome focuses on the genes that make proteins, but those only constitute about one percent of our DNA. What about the other 99% that is considered noncoding — which was once called junk DNA? It might not be junk. As much as 80% of the genome has some biochemical function, but we remain puzzled by its role. In this episode, Meghan Robinson speaks with Dr. Darren Hagen, who, along with his students, is studying a diverse array of species to identify genome features and decipher the role of the unknown 99%.