A brief style guide for writing about molecular biology

style-guide.txt

Use genetic terminology in a consistent way
...but do not necessarily complain if others do not---do not be pedantic!

- Data are plural.
  - Do not refer to a 'datum'---refer to a data point.
  - One or datasets can be described as large.
    Avoid the phrase 'big data'.
- Proteins are not 'expressed'; genes are.
  - refer instead to translation or (recombinant) protein production
- There are no 'mutant proteins'---mutation refers to changes in
  nucleic acid sequence.
  - refer instead to modified/altered/substituted protein
- Avoid referring to "reverse genetics",
  unless you are specifically trying to draw a contrast
  to forward genetics in some way.
- 'Wild-type' is an adjective,
  the 'wild type' is a noun.
  Avoid abbreviating when space allows.
- Do not use the adjective "post-genomic",
  e.g. in referring to the "post-genomic era".
  - This is meant to refer to the period of time 
    after a good reference genome has been obtained,
    but it ends up sounding like the genome has ceased to exist!
  - "Genomics era" would be better,
    but in general one should not define "eras" at all---it sounds
    grandiose and pretentious.
    Let historians define meaningful eras later.
- Do not refer to "next generation" sequencing
  (or "next generation" anything else for that matter).
  - People have been publishing short-read sequencing datasets since 2005!
  - It is much better to refer to specific technologies
  - If you absolutely must group technologies,
    it is better refer to second- and third-generation sequencing.
- Do not use the phrase "fake data" for simulated data.
  If you diagram predicted results (with graphs),
  clearly label them as /expected/ results.
  Do not include blot or plant images in such figures:
  use cartoon versions instead.
- Do not refer to "the dark matter of biology"
  or "the dark matter of the genome" etc.
  The phrase is a cliché.

Consider the OBO naming guidelines, especially Table 1:
http://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2105-10-125