How do I decide on a gene name (symbol)?
Answer:
- Gene names (symbols) are few letters (such as "W" for the white gene, "INR" for insulin receptor, "SRPN18" for serpin 18 in Anopheles) and should be unique for each gene.
- Gene descriptions are the "spelt out" version of the name (symbol), so "white", "insulin receptor" or "serpin 18" respectively, and are also unique for each gene.
- If you want to give a gene name (symbol), we recommend you pick up a meaningful one (e.g. "SRPN", for consistency with Anopheles) and since it's a gene family, add a number (e.g."SRPN11"). The gene description would be "serpin1".
Please follow this link for the FAQ "Rules and conventions for naming genetic features in mosquitoes (and other arthropod vectors)" for more details about this topic.