What Can We Learn from Pseudogenes? Essay examples -- Biology

After many ample molecular investigations of gene families, it has become appargonnt that a large majority of genes have multiple copies of themselves. This seemingly unnecessary amount of duplicates has led to gain ground investigate, revealing that these extra genes cannot successfully code for proteins (Proudfoot, 1980). These genes were therefore labeled as functionless sequences of DNA, and aptly named pseudogenes. This discovery poses many questions regarding the role and origin of these supposedly non-functional genes, only when most importantly what else can we learn from them? Unfortunately, DNA that cannot be show into proteins is useless in regards to investigations of the molecular clock (Martin, 1990), however further research proves that we can learn a lot from pseudogenes.In order to look what we can learn from pseudogenes, we need to understand them. Firstly, there are devil main types of pseudogene, processed and unprocessed. Processed pseudogenes, also know n as retropseudogenes, are sequences of transposable DNA that have been reverse transcribed back from mRNA, alone have somehow failed to replicate crucial protein coding elements when assimilated back into the genome (Graur and Li, 2000 Skalka and Goff, 1993). gross pseudogenes can occur by simple replication of a preexisting pseudogene, or due to adverse point mutations in normal mathematical operation genes that can trigger a frame shift in the reliable protein code. This frame shift can for example, lead to a mixture of previous(p) stop codons and elimination of splicing sites, rendering the gene faulty (Li, Graur and Shuali, 1989). ab initio it was believed that pseudogenes have no purpose, just selfish, parasitic DNA clogging up the genome (Orgel, Crick and ... ...e4573de165161150&searchtype=a Accessed 12th November 2010(20) Nishikimi, M. et al. 1994. Cloning and Chromosmal Mapping of the kind Nonfunctional agent for L-Guluno-y-Lactone Oxidase, the Enzyme for L-Absorbic Acid Biosynthesis Missing in Man*, The Journal of biologic Chemistry, online Available at Accessed 12th November 2010(21) Sakai, H. Itoh, T. Gojobori, T. 2008. Processed Pseudogenes and Their Functional Resurrection in the Human and Mouse Genomes, Wiley Online Library, online Available at http//onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470015902.a0021000/abstract Accessed 12th November 2010Websites(19) The True.Origin Archive Exposing the story of Evolution.2010. Pseudogenes Are They Non-Functional? online Available at Accessed 9th November 2010