a C. elegans adult hermaphrodite

Genetics Nomenclature

C. elegans genetics nomenclature is different from other model species, for historical reasons. It is relatively carefully controlled, and thus is quite easy to follow:

Loci have a "3-letter dash number" designation, the letters usually being an acronym for the phenotype observed and the number being consecutive. The phenotype name is also used as a descriptor: "the nematode displayed the Rcg (really cool genetic) phenotype" or "the nematode was Rcg". The locus name is italicised. Note that because C. elegans' normal mode of mating is by selfing, it is usual to look at homiozygous mutants, and thus the convention is that, unless otherwise indicated, all alleles are homozygous.

rcg-1 really cool gene 1

Alleles have a single or double letter followed by a number. The letter identifies the isolating laboratory.

rcg-1(ed1001) the ed1001 allele of rcg-1

Strains have a letter(s) number designation. The letters identify the isolating laboratory.

MB102 rcg-1(ed1001) Strain MB102 which carries the ed1001 allele of rcg-1
The chromosomal locatioon can be added: MB102 rcg-1(ed1001) III

Multiple mutant alleles carried in one strain are organised by chromosome, and chromosomes separated by semicolons. Heterozygous nematodes are designated by a rcg-1/+ notation.

rcg-1(+) indicates the wildtype (N2 strain) copy of the gene.

Proteins are capitalised and not italic.

RCG-1 is the protein product of rcg-1

Rearrangements. Duplications and deficiencies have a letter prefix (indicating the isolating lab) a Dp (pronounced dupe, for duplication) or Df (pronounced dif for deficiency) and a number.

edDp1 is duplication number 1 from ed
edDf1 is deficiency number 1 from ed

Transgenic strains carrying the transgene as a free extrachromosomal array are designated using the following naming scheme:

edEx1[rcg-1(+)] is a transgenic strain carrying the wt copy of rcg-1

This notation is quite versatile, as transgenes are more often than not made by co-injecting multiple genes, e.g. adIs1587[hsp16 promoter::exp-2(sa26) rol-6(d)].

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