Sequence Variant Nomenclature

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This site covers HGVS nomenclature, the recommendations for the description of sequence variants in DNA, RNA and protein sequences. It is used to report and exchange information of such variants and serves as an international standard. When using the recommendations please cite: Den Dunnen et al. 2016, Hum.Mutat. 37:564-569. HGVS-nomenclature is authorised by the Human Genome Organization (HUGO), under the responsibility of the HGVS Variant Nomenclature Committee (HVNC).

Recent Additions

Proposal SVD-WG010 (var distance) is now closed, SVD-WG decision pending. An overview of recent additions, especially those that led to a change of the HGVS version number, can be found on the Versioning page. The HGVS nomenclature facebook page regularly posts topics of interest, including Q&A’s and a nomenclature agenda.

ISCN 2020 update

The ISCN Standing committee is inviting the genetics community to send their suggestions for required changes to ISCN 2020. All suggestions should be placed on the ISCN Forum (sign in first), alternatively send suggestions by email to ( E-mail: Ros.Hastings @ genqa.org (remove spaces).
The ISCN Standing Committee (ISCN SC) is preparing nomenclature for Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) which will be sent out for consultation to the wider genetic community prior to incorporation within the next version of ISCN.
The deadline to submit any changes or additions to ISCN required is the 6th January 2023.

Contact Us

Discussions regarding HGVS nomenclature are necessary in order to further improve them. What is listed on these pages represents the current consensus of the recommendations. We invite everybody to send us question, comments or examples of cases that are not yet covered, with a suggestion of how to describe these ( E-mail: VarNomen @ HUGO-int.org (remove spaces). For questions regarding the description of variants, do not forget to mention the reference sequence used.