pseudogene

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noun

A segment of DNA that is part of the genome of an organism, and which is similar to a gene but does not code for a gene product.

OriginEnglish gene ← Middle English pseudo- ← Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudḗs) →
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nounpseudogene (plural pseudogenes)

plural pseudogenes

  1. biologyA segment of DNA that is part of the genome of an organism, and which is similar to a gene but does not code for a gene product.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekψεύδω (pseúdō)
  2. Ancient Greekψευδής (pseudḗs)
  3. Middle Englishpseudo-
  4. Englishpseudo-
  5. Englishgene
  6. Englishpseudogene

From pseudo- + gene.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish pseudogeeni
  • pseudogeenisegment of DNA
Italian pseudogene
  • pseudogenesegment of DNA
Russian псевдоген
  • псевдоген (psevdogen)segment of DNA
Spanish pseudogén, seudogén
  • pseudogénsegment of DNA
  • seudogénsegment of DNA
Cite this entry
APA

pseudogene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudogene

MLA

“pseudogene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudogene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pseudogene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudogene.

Source: pseudogene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.