The total number of characters in the insert designation plus the laboratory-assigned number may not exceed 11. The insert designation should identify the inserted sequence and indicate important features. If the insertion uses sequences from a named gene, it is preferable that the insert designation contain the standard symbol for that gene. If the gene symbol would exceed the spaces available, its beginning letters should be used. Hyphens should be omitted when normally hyphenated gene symbols are used.
Resources are available to identify standard gene symbols.
Symbols that are identical with other named genes in the same species should be avoided. For consistency, a series of transgenic animals produced with the same construct might be given the same insert designation. If a standard abbreviation is used, it should be placed at the end of the insert designation. The insert designation should identify the inserted sequence, not its location or phenotype. The laboratory-assigned number is a unique number that is assigned by the laboratory to each stably transmitted insertion when germline transmission is confirmed.