Vertebrate pseudogenes

Pseudogenes are commonly encountered during investigation of the genomes of a Hide range of life forms. This review concentrates on vertebrate, and in particular mammalian, pseudogenes and describes their origin and subsequen t evolution. Consideration is also given to pseudogenes that are transcribe d and to the unusual group of genes that exist at the interface between fun ctional genes and non-functional pseudogenes. As the sequences of different genomes are characterised, the recognition and interpretation of pseudogen e sequences will become more important and have a greater impact in the fie ld of molecular genetics. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Socie ties.