HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee facts for kids
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| Description | HGNC is responsible for approving unique symbols and names for human loci, including protein coding genes, RNA genes and pseudogenes, to allow unambiguous scientific communication. |
| Data types captured |
Gene nomenclature |
| Organisms | Human |
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| Research center | EMBL-EBI, UK; |
| Primary citation | Braschi et al. (2019) |
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| Web | , |
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| Curation policy | Yes |
The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) is a special group that works under the Human Genome Organisation (HUGO). Their main job is to create clear and unique names for every known human gene. Think of it like giving every person a unique name so there's no confusion.
The HGNC doesn't just give a long name; they also give a short symbol for each gene. This symbol is like a unique abbreviation. It helps scientists talk about genes without getting mixed up. These names and symbols are super important for understanding how our bodies work!
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Why Unique Gene Names Matter
Imagine if many different people had the exact same name. It would be hard to know who you're talking about! The same problem can happen with gene names. Sometimes, a short name or symbol might refer to many different genes.
For example, the symbol "CAP" could mean six different genes! This can make it very confusing for scientists. The HGNC solves this problem by making sure each gene has a symbol that belongs only to it. This way, when a scientist uses a gene symbol, everyone knows exactly which gene they mean.
Rules for Naming Genes
The HGNC has clear rules for naming human genes. These rules help keep everything organized and easy to understand. Here are the main guidelines they follow:
- Every gene symbol must be unique. No two genes can have the same symbol.
- Symbols should only use Latin letters (like A, B, C) and Arabic numerals (like 1, 2, 3).
- Symbols should not have punctuation marks (like commas or periods). They also don't use "G" to mean "gene."
- Symbols don't mention the species they come from. So, you won't see "H" or "h" for human in a gene symbol.
The HGNC believes that gene naming should change as new technology comes along. This helps keep the names useful and up-to-date. They also have special guides for naming different types of genetic parts.
How Genes Get Their Names
When the HGNC needs to name a new gene, they do a lot of research. They often contact scientists who have studied that gene. They ask for their ideas and feedback on the proposed name.
The HGNC also works closely with other groups. This includes committees that name mouse and rat genes. They also talk to experts who know a lot about specific gene families. This teamwork helps make sure gene names are consistent and accurate across different studies.
Changing Gene Names
Sometimes, a gene name might need to be changed. This process is similar to how new names are given. However, changing an established name can cause confusion. Because of this, the HGNC tries to change a gene name only if most scientists working on that gene agree it's a good idea. They want to make sure any changes help, not hurt, scientific communication.
See also
In Spanish: HGNC para niños
- Human Genome Organisation (HUGO)
- Human Genome Project
- Human genome
- Gene
- Gene nomenclature
- List of human protein-coding genes 1
- List of human protein-coding genes 2
- List of human protein-coding genes 3
- List of human protein-coding genes 4
