Sprinkles: Vitamins for the World
While leading-edge scientist release the huge story about (not anymore) “junk” DNA, which actually contains 80% regulatory sequences for genes, it’s worth remembering how much biomedical suffering can be relieved by simple remedies like Sprinkles–vitamin supplements for the world. Nearly half the world’s children lack iron, as well as other micronutrients, tiny amounts of which can make the difference between life and death; or between a good life and stunted growth. Countries such as Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, and Bangladesh have undertaken national programs to provide vitamin Sprinkles to put in children’s food. The families of these children are so lacking in education that they have no concept of why the vitamins are needed; they often fear the color or image on the package. But where Sprinkles go, children’s health makes huge strides forward.
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Ultraphyte 
Everybody loves sprinkles–but they have to be presented properly, as an ice cream cone topping. I don’t see how they can offer sprinkles without ice cream! But I supposed if you wanted to get all logical about it, ice cream may be difficult to procure in Bolivia. My nephew, Ben, went there on his Mormon mission and brought home a bride–they’ve got two cute kids already and live in Denver. But seriously, I think ice cream would offer tremendous health benefits, not to mention frozen yogurt and ice pops (and ice cubes, for that matter).
O, but I did see the article about the no-longer-junk-DNA. What a surprise! most of the coding of life on earth ISN’T just scribbling–huh, who’da thunk it?
I’m just as glad they’re teaching people about sprinkles. Unless it has a distinctive appearance and taste, unscrupulous people will try to market just about anything (ground glass, dust, bird poop) as “sprinkles.”
As for junk DNA, all it says is that nature is the ultimate hoarder and bricoleur. I’m sure this is bad news for all the synthetic biologists who want to rationalize the DNA of some organism so that they can start improving on nature.