Rice Gene Nomenclature: A draft document for discussion

The biological community is moving toward a universal system for the naming of genes. The advantage to scientific communication in recognizing a common genetic language is to facilitate structural, functional and evolutionary comparisons of genes and genetic variation among organisms. With increasing emphasis on the molecular and biochemical nature of genes and gene products, it is important that the gene nomenclature system for rice reflect knowledge about both the phenotypic consequences of a particular allele in a given genetic background and the biochemical features of a specific gene or gene family. The current rules for gene symbols in rice are based on recommendations from the Committee on Gene Symbolization, Nomenclature and Linkage (CGSNL) of the Rice Genetics Cooperative (Kinoshita, 1986). Most of the original gene names and symbols are descriptive of visible phenotypes that provided the earliest evidence for the existence of a gene and these names and symbols are widely used by the rice research community. As new methods for detecting and describing genes are increasingly applied to rice, nomenclature rules are needed that outline the standard procedures for describing genes based on DNA, RNA and protein sequence analysis and assays for biochemical function in addition to those previously outlined for phenotypic variants. For details please visit the revised rice gene nomenclature document (7th, November 2005)** Nomenclature document on genetic stocks and mutant lines. Old document from December 2004 is available here If you have identified a new gene, please fill out the SUMBISSION FORM to register the gene name and symbol. ** This document was revised based on the discussions and recommendations from the researchers and database groups. The document was discussed as part of the Rice Annotation Project (RAP1) meeting held at Tsukuba, Japan. The formal finalizing talks will be held at the upcoming IRGS5 meeting in Manila from November 19-22, 2005. Therefore please send your comments and suggestions by writing an e.mail to Susan R. McCouch and the group.