Genetic technologies now occupy a central place in biological science. Various genes and gene-related techniques have become indispensable in research into disease prevention, behavior, food enhancement and environmental remediation.

The designation of genes following their discovery is a controlled process. Nomenclature guidelines exist for a variety of organisms, including Arabidopis, Bacteria, Bovine, Caenorhabditis elegans, Chicken, Dictyostelium, Drosophila melanogaster, Human, Mouse, Neurospora, Rat, Rice, Yeast, and Zebrafish.

A vital ability for cell survival and growth is the ability to correctly and efficiently direct proteins to their final destination within the cell, or to successfully export proteins from the cell. In eukaryotic cells, proteins are made in a compartment called the endoplasmic reticulum. From there, a secretory pathway leads the proteins through stacks of an organelle called the Golgi to secretory vesicles and onward to the plasma membrane surrounding the cell. A number or...