Retrocopy is the result of a process in which mRNAs are reverse-transcribed into cDNA and inserted back into a new position on the genome, usually by retroelement machinery. Since the retrocopies are based on mature mRNA they lack many of their parental genes' genetic features, such as introns and regulatory elements. Most retrocopies have turned into pseudogenes (also known as processed pseudogenes) in mammals and some of them may recruit upstream regulatory elements and be come functional.
RCPedia is a dedicated database providing information about retrocopies (or processed pseudogenes). Currently, RCPedia has cataloged 219,948 retrocopies across 44 eukaryotic species. The database also presents information about retrocopy genomic coordinates, context, expression, species conservation, parental genes, and more.