Pseudogenes as Functionally Significant Elements of the Genome

Pseudogene is a gene copy that has lost its original function. For a long time, pseudogenes have been considered as “junk DNA” that inevitably arises as a result of ongoing evolutionary process. However, experimental data obtained during recent years indicate this understanding of the nature of pseu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biochemistry (Moscow) 2018-11, Vol.83 (11), p.1332-1349
Main Authors: Kovalenko, T. F., Patrushev, L. I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biochemistry
Biological evolution
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Bioorganic Chemistry
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Evolution, Molecular
Gene expression
Gene regulation
Genome, Human
Genomes
Humans
Life Sciences
Microbiology
Pathogenesis
Physiological aspects
Pseudogenes
Review
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Summary:Pseudogene is a gene copy that has lost its original function. For a long time, pseudogenes have been considered as “junk DNA” that inevitably arises as a result of ongoing evolutionary process. However, experimental data obtained during recent years indicate this understanding of the nature of pseudogenes is not entirely correct, and many pseudogenes perform important genetic functions. In the review, we have addressed classification of pseudogenes, methods of their detection in the genome, and the problem of their evolutionary conservatism and prevalence among species belonging to different taxonomic groups in the light of modern data. The mechanisms of gene expression regulation by pseudogenes and the role of pseudogenes in pathogenesis of various human diseases are discussed.
ISSN:0006-2979
1608-3040
DOI:10.1134/S0006297918110044