2 ms·

But we didn't accept them as they are. We looked at two options, change excel or change gene names, and picked the one most likely to solve the problem. Gene na

But we didn't accept them as they are. We looked at two options, change excel or change gene names, and picked the one most likely to solve the problem. Gene names mean nothing anyway. We're going from random letters that mean nothing to humans and computers to still random letters that mean nothing but at least don't get confused for dates.

rolph 6y ago
there was a time when a gene was named to facilitate search through a bookshelf full of laboratory notes. you could look at a genes lable and know exactly where to find reference to the gene, the lable would indicate the stack number the shelf, the section the volume the page[s] and paragraph....lables such as Sonichedgehog dont do that anymore.
- vikramkr 6y ago
  I've been in the room when deciding what to call a gene that the lab had just characterized/identified as interesting for the publication they were working on, and let's just say that making it easy to catalog and find the gene wasn't really on their mind. They'd actually been using a deliberately obfuscated name in conferences to prevent people from scooping their work on the gene before, which is pretty common.
  - rolph 6y ago
    conference is a different game but that doesnt change what happens in the lab, if you look at the overall picture you can see the potential for duplication of alphanumeric strings. this is why in conference lables must be developed as you have a wider context in conference than in your own lab. You can be scooped for research regardless of what lable is given to a gene, and for that matter even if you make publication first as not everybody has the same ethical framework of honesty or due accreditation. the time before computers were used reflexively was when we would record data, in cursive written in hardcover bound note books. a putative gene has a name that allows it to be found. later if things work nicely that putative is confirmed to be a gene and if things work ideally the locus can be established https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_(genetics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_(genetics) around the late nineties the obsession with videogames and netspeak took hold, and the popular names began to crop up.

rolph 6y ago

there was a time when a gene was named to facilitate search through a bookshelf full of laboratory notes. you could look at a genes lable and know exactly where to find reference to the gene, the lable would indicate the stack number the shelf, the section the volume the page[s] and paragraph....lables such as Sonichedgehog dont do that anymore.

vikramkr 6y ago
I've been in the room when deciding what to call a gene that the lab had just characterized/identified as interesting for the publication they were working on, and let's just say that making it easy to catalog and find the gene wasn't really on their mind. They'd actually been using a deliberately obfuscated name in conferences to prevent people from scooping their work on the gene before, which is pretty common.
- rolph 6y ago
  conference is a different game but that doesnt change what happens in the lab, if you look at the overall picture you can see the potential for duplication of alphanumeric strings. this is why in conference lables must be developed as you have a wider context in conference than in your own lab. You can be scooped for research regardless of what lable is given to a gene, and for that matter even if you make publication first as not everybody has the same ethical framework of honesty or due accreditation. the time before computers were used reflexively was when we would record data, in cursive written in hardcover bound note books. a putative gene has a name that allows it to be found. later if things work nicely that putative is confirmed to be a gene and if things work ideally the locus can be established https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_(genetics) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_(genetics) around the late nineties the obsession with videogames and netspeak took hold, and the popular names began to crop up.