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But we still have the non-functional GULO pseudogene in our DNA. Every part of the vitamin C pathway is still present, except for that one broken step. If you
by logfromblammo 10y ago
But we still have the non-functional GULO pseudogene in our DNA. Every part of the vitamin C pathway is still present, except for that one broken step.
If you inject L-gulonolactone oxidase into your liver, you will produce vitamin C. Evolution didn't decide to save energy. It decided that if the users don't notice the bug before the warranty period expires, it isn't worth working the issue.
- sbierwagen 10y agoThe rest of the vitamin C synthesis machinery may be there, but it's obviously not consuming any energy if it's not producing anything. There's also some speculation that eliminating vitamin C synthesis had other beneficial effects, beyond saving energy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-gulonolactone_oxidase#Consequences_of_loss https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-gulonolactone_oxidase#Conseq...
- M_Grey 10y agoIt takes energy to maintain and replicate that machinery... but then we're full of DNA that seems to be mostly along for the ride.