Well, ModENCODE (ENCODE for model organisms) found "unprecedented complexity" in the fruit fly genome in 2014, then "ENCODE 2" followed up with more discoveries of function. Now, ENCODE 3 has just finished submitting its reports, with record numbers of DNA annotations listed, and ENCODE 4 is gearing up. Nothing like a little overkill to drive the point home: "... then evolution is wrong." Look at how much constructive science is being done with the assumption that DNA elements are there for a purpose.
History and Purposes
Before introducing the latest results, Nature provides an overview, "Perspectives on ENCODE," that recounts the history and purposes of the project:
The ENCODE Project was launched in 2003, as the first nearly complete human genome sequence was reported. At that time, our understanding of the human genome was limited. For example, although 5% of the genome was known to be under purifying selection in placental mammals, our knowledge of specific elements, particularly with regards to non-protein coding genes and regulatory regions, was restricted to a few well-studied loci.Annotations are like labels or comments on things. For instance, if you have a stereo system with a lot of cables, you might affix tags on them to indicate where the TV plugs in, or where each speaker wire goes. In computer programming, wise programmers add comments in English to explain what a section of code does. Comments do not affect the function of the code, but help the next programmer follow the logic.
ENCODE commenced as an ambitious effort to comprehensively annotate the elements in the human genome, such as genes, control elements, and transcript isoforms, and was later expanded to annotate the genomes of several model organisms. Mapping assays identified biochemical activities and thus candidate regulatory elements. [Emphasis added.]
Comment: We'll see how their predictions fare, because all signs point to our planet entering a period of extremes: