  Let $G$ be a $2$-generated group. The generating graph $\Gamma(G)$ is the
graph whose vertices are the elements of $G$ and where two vertices $g_1$ and
$g_2$ are adjacent if $G = \langle g_1, g_2 \rangle.$ This graph encodes the
combinatorial structure of the distribution of generating pairs across $G.$ In
this paper we study some graph theoretic properties of $\Gamma(G)$, with
particular emphasis on those properties that can be formulated in terms of
forbidden induced subgraphs. In particular we investigate when the generating
graph $\Gamma(G)$ is a cograph (giving a complete description when $G$ is
soluble) and when it is perfect (giving a complete description when $G$ is
nilpotent and proving, among the others, that $\Gamma(S_n)$ and $\Gamma(A_n)$
are perfect if and only if $n\leq 4$). Finally we prove that for a finite group
$G$, the properties that $\Gamma(G)$ is split, chordal or $C_4$-free are
equivalent.
