Down with ncRNA! Long live fRNA and jRNA!

TL;DR

The paper argues that ncRNA and lncRNA are invalid terms and proposes an evolutionary classification system that labels RNA molecules as either functional or junk based on their effects, advocating for clearer terminology and criteria.

Contribution

It introduces a new evolutionary classification framework for RNA, replacing the outdated ncRNA/lncRNA terminology with a functional/junk RNA system.

Findings

Proposes retiring ncRNA and lncRNA terms.

Suggests classifying RNAs as functional or junk based on effects.

Recommends using Popperian criteria for unknown functions.

Abstract

Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) are scientifically invalid terms because they define molecular entities according to properties they do not possess and functions they do not perform. Here, I suggest retiring these two terms. Instead, I suggest using an evolutionary classification of genomic function, in which every RNA molecule is classified as either "functional" or "junk' according to its selected effect function. Dealing with RNA molecules whose functional status is unknown require us to phrase Popperian nomenclatures that spell out the conditions for their own refutation. Thus, in the absence of falsifying evidence, RNA molecules of unknown function must be considered junk RNA (jRNA).