Announcing the Vertebrate Gene Nomenclature Committee

The Vertebrate Gene Nomenclature Committee (VGNC) is an extension of the HGNC. VGNC is responsible for assigning standardized names to genes in vertebrate species that currently lack a nomenclature committee. The 6 existing vertebrate nomenclature committees and VGNC coordinate to ensure genes are named in line with their human homologs. We also rely on the expertise of specialist advisors for naming within complex families. Our prototype species for VGNC naming is chimpanzee and this naming process will be expanded in due course to dog and cow.