HGNC logo Copy Number Variant (CNV) Gene Nomenclature Helsinki Meeting Summary HUGO logo
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Giving unique and meaningful names to every human gene

Joint meeting of HGNC and HGVS: Room 209, Helsinki Fair Centre, Finland 31 May 2006 ( ~80 people in attendance)

Following a vote VCN genes will now be referred to as copy number variant or CNV genes (10 votes for CNV, 2 votes for VCN)

As a result of this meeting the HGNC formulated the following summary which will shortly be refined and incorporated into our Guidelines:

•  HGNC is not a variation database.

•  HGNC agrees with the need to 'name' individual copies of CNV genes.

•  HGNC will continue to provide a unique "gene symbol" for all unique "genes".

•  A unique "CNV symbol" will be available for "CNV genes".

•  "CNV symbol" will be a new category in the HGNC database, with a unique symbol identifier which can be placed on a reference genome and the CNV symbol entry will include links to other databases.

•  When a gene is identified as CNV then there will be a link in the gene symbol entry to any associated CNV symbol entries and to the Database of Genomic Variants.

•  The CNV symbol entries will link to their stem symbol entry.

•  "CNV symbols" will use the appropriate unique "gene symbol" stem with the addition of either a numeral or a letter depending on the last character in the stem symbol. eg: for the gene symbol "DEFB104" there will be 2 CNV symbols "DEFB104A" and "DEFB104B", whereas the gene symbol "ABO" could be given CNV symbols "ABO1", "ABO2" etc.

•  "CNV symbols" will not have the same status in the HGNC database as "gene symbols".

•  Standard gene search will only retrieve "gene symbols", eg DEFB104.

•  The advanced search option to include CNV entries would retrieve DEFB104, DEFB104A, DEFB104B

•  The use of CNV status means that there is no need for the addition of any extra identifiers in the gene name.

•  HGNC will provide a "CNV symbol" upon request when the following criteria are reached:

Please email us at at hgnc@genenames.org with your suggestions and/or comments

The work of the HGNC is supported by National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) grant P41 HG03345 and Wellcome Trust grant 081979/Z/07/Z.