Final answer:
A pseudogene is a gene that has lost its function or is no longer expressed by the cell. A processed pseudogene is created by the reverse transcription of an mRNA molecule and insertion into the genome.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pseudogene is a gene that has lost its function or is no longer expressed by the cell. It can arise through several mechanisms, such as gene duplication, reverse transcription, or genomic rearrangement. A processed pseudogene is a type of pseudogene that is created by the reverse transcription of an mRNA molecule and subsequent insertion into the genome.
For example, the mouse genome has one gene and two pseudogenes for cytoplasmic thymidine kinase. These pseudogenes were created through the process of reverse transcription and insertion into the genome.