Plant & Animal Genome IX Conference Plant & Animal Genome IX Conference
Workshop: Databases, Gene Systematics, and Nomenclature
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We are now increasing our resources to cope with the numbers of gene symbols needed for the whole of the sequenced human genome. Although, it may be more logical to give each gene a reference number there is still a need for symbols for genes, as people prefer them. Standardised gene nomenclature is an essential resource for all scientists and the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) is committed to supplying unique symbols and names for all human genes. Designations describing structure, function or homology are preferred, where possible, and we work closely with researchers in the field, other online databases including LocusLink, and the Mouse Nomenclature Committee. We have assigned gene symbols to the finished sequences for chromosomes 22 and 21 (Dunham et al. 1999; Hattori et al. 2000), providing a total of 575 approved symbols. We are now working with other chromosome-specific databases to provide further designations for the rest of the genome. This work often includes the classification of gene families and the assignment of particular genes to these, with the approval of systematic symbols. These gene families are not usually human specific and we are very keen to increase our collaboration with other genome databases in order to maintain symbol consistency and database interoperability. The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee webpage can be found at URL http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/nomenclature/ and we can be contacted via email: nome@galton.ucl.ac.uk