Table 2

Pseudogene biotypes

Biotype

Definition

Processed pseudogene

Pseudogene created via retrotransposition of the mRNA of a functional protein-coding parent gene followed by accumulation of disabling mutations

Duplicated pseudogene

Pseudogene created via genomic duplication of a functional protein-coding parent gene followed by accumulation of disabling mutations

Unitary pseudogene

Pseudogene for which the ortholog in a reference species (mouse) is coding but the human locus has accumulated fixed disabling mutations

Polymorphic pseudogene

Locus known to be coding in some individuals but with disabling mutations in the reference genome

IG pseudogene

Immunoglobulin gene segment with disabling mutations

TR pseudogene

T-cell receptor gene segment with disabling mutations

Pei et al. Genome Biology 2012 13:R51   doi:10.1186/gb-2012-13-9-r51