Scientists have discovered that ancient “junk” DNA, believed to have freeloaded in our bodies since before we stood on two legs, has actually been working overtime. The new research, published in Science Advances, claims that this previously dismissed genetic junk plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression. 

“Our genome was sequenced long ago, but the function of many of its parts remain unknown,” said Fumitaka Inoue, associate professor at Kyoto University, in a press release. “Transposable elements are thought to play important roles in genome evolution, and their significance is expected to become clearer as research continues.”