The name and symbol are capitalized if the phenotype of the mutant allele for which the gene was named is dominant to a wild-type allele. Be aware, however, that many nominally 'dominant genes' have recessive alleles and many 'recessive genes' have dominant alleles. When the product of a gene is known, the gene is typically named according to the product encoded, with a chromosomal location or series number if part of a multigene family. Aberrations Chromosome aberrations are named according to the type of rearrangement, the chromosome or chromosomes involved, and an identifying symbol. The identifier may or may not convey information about the rearrangement.
Balancers are an important class of aberration and one for which shorthand is commonly used.
Lindsley and Zimm define a set of core balancer symbols that are commonly used to represent a particular set of aberrations and markers. The most popular balancers exist in a variety of marker combinations , all with at least one dominant visible marker. Within a chromosome, aberrations precede gene symbols. A comma and space separate aberrations from gene symbols and genes are listed in the left-right order of the unrearranged chromosome. Gene symbols are separated by a space.