[Campbell Biology P.514] The ENCODE project Encyclopedia of DNA Elements was a significant u... | Practice Question

The ENCODE project Encyclopedia of DNA Elements was a significant undertaking in genomics. Based on the information provided, what was a key finding or implication associated with the ENCODE project that advanced our understanding of the human genome?

  • A: It confirmed that over 98% of the human genome is 'junk DNA' with no functional purpose.
  • B: It primarily focused on improving DNA sequencing technology, leading to faster and less expensive genome sequencing methods.
  • C: It revealed that a large portion of the human genome previously considered noncoding actually has biochemical functions.
  • D: It demonstrated that all human genes are present in a single copy per haploid chromosome set.

Explanation

The question mark under Concept 21.2 asks, 'What has been the most significant finding of the ENCODE project?' While the text doesn't explicitly state the ENCODE answer, the surrounding context about 'functional DNA elements' and 'genes contributing to medical conditions' strongly implies its focus. The widely known major finding of ENCODE, and what is implicitly asked, is that much of the human genome previously considered 'junk' actually has biochemical functions. This aligns with the broader theme of bioinformatics identifying functional regions.