A gene family is a group of genes that share important characteristics. Classifying individual genes into families helps researchers describe how genes are related to each other.
For more information, see What are gene families? in the Handbook.
The following families, defined by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee
, are included in Genetics Home Reference.
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aaRS (aminoacyl tRNA synthetases)
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ABC (ATP-binding cassette transporters)
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ABHD (abhydrolase domain containing genes)
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ADAMTS (ADAMTS metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif family)
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ALDH (aldehyde dehydrogenases)
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ALOX (arachidonate lipoxygenases)
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ATP (ATPase superfamily)
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bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix)
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BIRC (baculoviral IAP repeat-containing genes)
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blood group (blood group determining genes)
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CACN (calcium channels)
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CATSPER (cation channels, sperm associated)
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CD (CD molecules)
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CDH (cadherin superfamily)
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CHMP (chromatin modifying proteins)
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COLPG (collagen proteoglycans)
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complement (complement system genes)
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CTS (cathepsins)
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CYP (cytochrome P450)
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DN (axonemal dyneins)
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DNAJ (DnaJ (Hsp40) homologs)
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FANC (Fanconi anemia, complementation groups)
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FOX (Forkhead box genes)
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FZD (frizzled homologs)
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GJ (gap junction proteins (connexins))
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GPC (glypicans)
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GPR (G protein-coupled receptors)
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HLA (histocompatibility complex genes)
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homeobox (homeoboxes)
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IFT (intraflagellar transport homologs)
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IL (interleukin and interleukin receptor genes)
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KCN (potassium channels)
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KIF (kinesins)
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KRT (keratins)
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mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (mitochondrial respiratory chain complex genes)
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NLR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine rich repeat containing family)
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PAR (pseudoautosomal regions)
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PAX (paired box gene)
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PDI (protein disulfide isomerases)
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PG (proteoglycans)
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PTP (protein tyrosine phosphatases)
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RAB (RAB, member RAS oncogene family)
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RNF (RING-type zinc fingers)
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RPS (ribosomal proteins)
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SCN (sodium channels)
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SERPIN (serine (or cysteine) proteinase inhibitors)
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SLC (solute carriers)
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SLRR (small leucine-rich repeat family)
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SMAD (SMAD, mothers against DPP homologs)
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SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes proteins)
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SOX (SRY (sex determining region Y)-box genes)
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TBX (T-box gene family)
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TNFRSF (tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily)
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TNFSF (Tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily)
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TRIM (tripartite motif-containing)
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UBA (ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzymes)
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UGT (UDP glucuronosyltransferases)
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USP (ubiquitin-specific peptidases)
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WNT (wingless-type MMTV integration site family)
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ZCCHC (zinc fingers, CCHC domain containing)
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ZFYVE (zinc fingers, FYVE-type)
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ZNF (zinc fingers, C2H2-type)
