[Go] Gene Symbols as GO synonyms

[Ruth Lovering]

Hi Jen

when I first looked at GO I found it rather disconcerting to see gene  
symbols listed as synonyms for the GO term, because I didn't  
appreciate the [related] and [exact] concepts.

As the annotation of genes improves I do think that the use of  
synonyms becomes redundant, as the option of looking at what genes are  
associated with the term and provides the same information as the  
synonym.

I guess that the ideal approach would be to make sure that any deleted  
gene symbol synonyms are annotated with that GO term (if only - sorry  
to say this - with a TAS statement). And that in future editors,  
rather than add the gene symbol as a synonym, make this annotation  
directly to the gene itself.  (sorry bit radical)

If this was achieved then people could find terms they are interested  
in by looking at the annotation of p53, and would see other  
potentially relevant terms too.

Ruth