Genomic evidence for non-random endemic populations of decaying exons from mammalian genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Functional diversification of genes in mammalian genomes is engendered by a number of processes, e.g., gene duplication and alternative splicing. Gene duplication is classically discussed as leading to neofunctionalization (generation of new functions), subfunctionalization (generation of a varied function), or pseudogenization (loss of the gene and its function).

Results

Here, we focus on the process of pseudogenization, but specifically for individual exons from genes. It is at present unclear to what extent pseudogenization of individual exon duplications affects gene evolution, i.e., is it a random phenomenon, or is it associated with specific types of genes and encoded proteins, and positions in gene structures? We gathered genomic evidence for pseudogenic ex

SUBMITTER: Morais DD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2718932 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature