Pseudogenes do function (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, October 20, 2012, 01:08 (4419 days ago)

In cancers according to a recent paper:-http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/5/242/re5-The conclusion:-"The function of the great fraction of the human genome (98%) composed of sequences that do not encode proteins remains a mystery. Pseudogenes are technically part of this fraction, and the examples described here clearly demonstrate that they perform a broad and multifaceted spectrum of activities in human cancer. Therefore, the name pseudogenes, which underlies their close sequence similarity with parental counter-parts, should not imply a negative connotation. They might be "pseudo" genes because they do not encode a protein or because they encode a protein that does not function in the same way as that encoded by their cognate genes. Nonetheless, they are functionally disabled but can perform different functions than their parental gene counterparts."