As a community database, AspGD will not invent any gene name standards of our own, but we will use and enforce guidelines developed by consensus in the community.

Community guidelines for gene names, developed during discussions around the meeting of the Aspergillus fumigatus genome sequencing group in 2000 and the 1st International Aspergillus Meeting in 2004, are posted on the www.aspergillus.org.uk web site. The first name published in the scientific literature for any given gene will be used as the standard gene name in AspGD. In addition, identifiers in use by GenBank or by the Broad Institute have been assigned as gene aliases. (Nomenclature issues related to the incorporation of the Broad Institute reannotation during preparation of Version 5 of the Aspergillus nidulans reference annotation are described in more detail in the AspGD Sequence Documentation.)

We welcome feedback by email about AspGD gene name policy issues, such as:

• Should AspGD provide a Gene Name registration system, similar to the system in place at the Candida Genome Database?
• Would the Aspergillus research community like us to enforce guidelines for the format of standard gene names to be used in AspGD?
• Should AspGD mediate discussions about proposed changes to Standard Gene Names? At the Saccharomyces and Candida Genome Databases, gene names may be changed if there is consensus among the groups who study the gene, and the database staff serve as facilitators during this process. AspGD would be happy to assume a similar role for the Aspergillus community, if the community would like us to do so.