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21.0 Series#

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Version 21.0.0 is the first significant update in HGVS Nomenclature in almost four years. While we have resolved many errors during this work, it is possible that new errors were introduced. If you find an issue, please contact us.

21.0.4 (2024-08-15)#

What's Changed#

Full Changelog: https://github.com/HGVSnomenclature/hgvs-nomenclature/compare/21.0.3...21.0.4

21.0.3 (2024-07-19)#

What's Changed#

Full Changelog: https://github.com/HGVSnomenclature/hgvs-nomenclature/compare/21.0.2...21.0.3

21.0.2 (2024-03-15)#

What's Changed#

New Contributors#

Full Changelog: https://github.com/HGVSnomenclature/hgvs-nomenclature/compare/21.0.1...21.0.2

21.0.1 (2024-02-22)#

What's Changed#

New Contributors#

Full Changelog: https://github.com/HGVSnomenclature/hgvs-nomenclature/compare/21.0.0...21.0.1

21.0.0 (2024-08-12)#

Major Changes#

  • Our preferred name is "HGVS Nomenclature". The many previous names (e.g., HGVS guidelines, HGVS recommendations, VarNomen, Mutnomen) created confusion and are obsolete.
  • The URL is now stable. To foster stable URLs and better serve the community, HGVS Nomenclature now has a dedicated domain name, hgvs-nomenclature.org. The previous pages are now archived at archive.hgvs-nomenclature.org. The old site, varnomen.hgvs.org forwards users to the corresponding page on the new site.
  • Documentation management was improved. Pages from the old documentation were migrated to a new system that should make it easier to maintain HGVS Nomenclature and support multiple device sizes (phones, tablets, laptops). The intention during migration was to retain the intention of the original text, while modernizing the management of HGVS Nomenclature and cleaning up the presentation.
  • Adopted Semantic Versioning and defined how versions should interoperate. HGVS Nomenclature will now use Semantic Versioning, which should make it easier for users to track new features in HGVS Nomenclature. Beginning with this release, historical versions will also be available adjacent to newer versions. See Versions for details.
  • HGVS Nomenclature is now part of HUGO. HGVS Nomenclature is overseen by the Human Variant Nomenclature Committee, a subcommittee of the Human Genome Organization (HUGO).
  • Updated channels to communicate with the HVNC and contribute ideas. We have introduced two new mechanisms to contact the HVNC: there is now an email list to discuss HGVS nomenclature, and we have formalized the process by which may submit ideas. See Contact Us for details. The Facebook group and older email address (which was read only by the committee chair) are now obsolete.

New features#

In version 21.0.0, most changes to the HGVS Nomenclature were operational, but some new features were introduced:

  • Developed a formal grammar for HGVS Nomenclature syntax. HGVS Nomenclature previously used human-readable descriptions of the syntax of variants. These descriptions were not usable by computers and sometimes conflicted. We have started to introduce the use of formal grammars to represent variant syntax. See Grammar Elements for details.
  • Summarized all syntax in a single table. As a by-product of migrating to a formal grammar, we have also generated a summary of all HGVS syntax on a single page by variant type. See HGVS Syntax Summary.
  • Added a list of software that manipulates HGVS variant descriptions. See Software.
  • Updated recommendations for gene fusion syntax. We have aligned definitions of terms used in the characterization of gene fusions and DNA rearrangements with the VICC Gene Fusion Specification, the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, and the ISCN Nomenclature Committee. This has resulted in the revision of the term fusion transcript to adjoined transcript in relevant sections of the nomenclature and glossary. We have also updated our recommendations for users to consult the VICC Gene Fusion Specification nomenclature for exon-based representations of adjoined transcripts.