Biological dark matter

Biological dark matter is an informal term for genetic material or microorganisms that are unclassified or poorly understood.

Biological dark matter includes non-coding DNA (junk DNA) and non-coding RNA. Much of the genomic dark matter is thought to originate from ancient transposable elements and from other low-complexity repetitive elements. Uncategorized genetic material is found in humans and in several other organisms. Their phylogenetic novelty could indicate the cellular organisms or viruses from which they evolved.

Biologists are unable to culture and grow 99% of all living microorganisms, so few functional insights exist about the metabolic potential of these organisms.