This gene belongs to the RBMY gene family which includes candidate Y chromosome spermatogenesis genes. This gene, an active X chromosome homolog of the Y chromosome RBMY gene, is widely expressed whereas the RBMY gene evolved a male-specific function in spermatogenesis. Pseudogenes of this gene, found on chromosomes 1, 4, 9, 11, and 6, were likely derived by retrotransposition from the original gene. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified. A snoRNA gene (SNORD61) is found in one of its introns.
