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'''Pseudogenes''' are genes present in an organism's [[genome]] that have lost the ability to code for proteins due to mutation. Pseudogenes are often difficult to parse from the large amount of non-coding base pairs in the genome. Convention requires to two elements to be present to label a sequence a pseudogene. The first is [[homology]] which is the requirement that a sequence be demonstrated to descend from a functional copy of the gene and the second is non-functionality which is the requirement that the gene not code for a protein in the organism in question.
Since all pseudogenes are descended from a functioning gene the first step is to find a species that has a functioning copy of that gene. This is done by looking at [[phylogenetic tree]]s and testing organisms with a relatively recent [[common descent | common ancestor]] and working backwards until a copy is found. Once a functioning copy of a gene is detected its sequence is compared to the pseudogene. A high correlation in base pairs is used to assign homology. Non-functionality can be demonstrated by attempting to transcribe the sequence in-vitro. Humans have many pseudogenes including [[L-gulonolactone oxidase]] which is used to synthesize vitamin c. This gene was inactivated in the common ancestor of all [[simians]].
==See also==
[[Endogenous retrovirus]]
[[L-gulonolactone oxidase]]
==References==
*Vanin, E. F. (1985). "Processed pseudogenes: characteristics and evolution." Annu Rev Genet 19: 253-72.
Since all pseudogenes are descended from a functioning gene the first step is to find a species that has a functioning copy of that gene. This is done by looking at [[phylogenetic tree]]s and testing organisms with a relatively recent [[common descent | common ancestor]] and working backwards until a copy is found. Once a functioning copy of a gene is detected its sequence is compared to the pseudogene. A high correlation in base pairs is used to assign homology. Non-functionality can be demonstrated by attempting to transcribe the sequence in-vitro. Humans have many pseudogenes including [[L-gulonolactone oxidase]] which is used to synthesize vitamin c. This gene was inactivated in the common ancestor of all [[simians]].
==See also==
[[Endogenous retrovirus]]
[[L-gulonolactone oxidase]]
==References==
*Vanin, E. F. (1985). "Processed pseudogenes: characteristics and evolution." Annu Rev Genet 19: 253-72.