Pseudogenes in the Human Genome - Why?

Discussion in 'Biology & Genetics' started by Walter L. Wagner, Aug 7, 2006.

  1. My Sexy Blue Feet Out sunbaking, leave a msg... Registered Senior Member

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    Pseudogenes can often be vestial appendeges of evolution, but to take them out can change the 3d composition of dna, which can affect not only splicing of gene, but how other proteins enzymes ect affect each other.
     
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  3. valich Registered Senior Member

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    Pseudogenes are genotype mutations (deletions or additions in the nucleotide bases). The only relation that they have to vestial appendages is that they may both be remnants from our ancestrial species, but they are completely different. A vestial appendage is a phenotype formed from a fully intact genotype. Pseudogenes are a genotype code that codes for nothing, until perhaps it matches up with neighboring nucleodite base codes that then could possibly code for some new type of phenotype mutation, but this is highly improbable given the number of amino acids it would have to code for to produce the proteins then the quaternary structure then the mutated phenotype.
     
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  5. invert_nexus Ze do caixao Valued Senior Member

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    Valich,

    Your penchant for misunderstanding strikes again.

    What she was saying is that pseudogenes are genes that are no longer function. Thus they are analogous to vestigial appendages and/or organs. They serve no purpose.

    Her main point was that even though they don't directly serve a purpose, they do shape the chromosome and thus affect the way genes are expressed.

    A very interesting point, actually. One which had never occurred to me.
     
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  7. Medicine*Woman Jesus: Mythstory--Not History! Valued Senior Member

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    *************
    M*W: Are you talking about telomerase, for example?
     

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