---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is that 95 percent? Some is…"
description: "\"“What is that 95 percent? Some is junk—remnants of pseudogenes inactivated by evolution.fn4,3 But buried in that are the keys to the kingdom, the instr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_evolution_what-is-that-95-percent-some-is-junk-rem_2726954.png"
---

#  What is that 95 percent? Some is junk—remnants of…

![“What is that 95 percent? Some is junk—remnants of pseudogenes inactivated by evolution.fn4,3 But buried in that are the keys to the kingdom, the instruction manual for when to transcribe particular genes, the on/off switches for gene transcription. A gene doesn’t “decide” when to be photocopied…” quote by Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_evolution_what-is-that-95-percent-some-is-junk-rem_2726954.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_evolution_what-is-that-95-percent-some-is-junk-rem_2726954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27d/robert-m-sapolsky-1166_evolution_what-is-that-95-percent-some-is-junk-rem_2726954.png)

> ““What is that 95 percent? Some is junk—remnants of pseudogenes inactivated by evolution.fn4,3 But buried in that are the keys to the kingdom, the instruction manual for when to transcribe particular genes, the on/off switches for gene transcription. A gene doesn’t “decide” when to be photocopied into RNA, to generate its protein. Instead, before the start of the stretch of DNA coding for that gene is a short stretch called a promoterfn5—the “on” switch. What turns the promoter switch on? Something called a transcription factor (TF) binds to the promoter. This causes the recruitment of enzymes that transcribe the gene into RNA. Meanwhile, other transcription factors deactivate genes.””

[Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Gene expression is regulated by promoters and transcription factors, not by conscious decision.

**In simple terms:** Genes are turned on/off by molecular switches.

Key Takeaway

Understand molecular regulation.

Themes

biology genetics regulation

Mood

curious analytical

Type

scientific educational

When to use this quote

- research labs
- medical genetics
- education
- biotech development

Key Concepts

promoter transcription factor gene expression

Questions to Reflect On

- How do external signals affect transcription?
- What role do epigenetics play?

A Different Perspective

Complex regulation can be influenced by environmental factors, not just DNA.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Called Promoterfn5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-promoterfn5-2926533/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Gene Transcription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gene-transcription-2926531/) [Keys to the kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys-to-the-kingdom/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Promoter Switch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promoter-switch-2926530/) [Promoterfn5 Switch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promoterfn5-switch-2926532/) [Transcription Gene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transcription-gene-2926534/)

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