Validate a human gene symbol
Exactbiotech_gene_validateDeterministic and authoritative — the canonical answer for this input.
Validate a human gene symbol against HGNC. `valid` is true ONLY for the current approved symbol — a recognized alias or previous symbol returns valid=false WITH status ('alias'/'previous') and canonical_symbol, so check `status`, not just the boolean, before concluding a symbol is unknown (status 'unknown' means not in HGNC at all). Fully local and deterministic: a real dictionary verdict (approved/alias/previous/unknown) scores confidence 1.0; empty input scores 0.0 (a missing-input reject, nothing to look up). Charges 1 cost_unit. Processing multiple inputs? Use `biotech_gene_validate_batch` to do up to 500 in one call.
Parameters
symbolstringrequiredThe gene symbol to validate (e.g. 'BRCA1').
Call it
curl -X POST https://api.snipget.ai/v1/biotech/gene/validate \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..." \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"symbol":"p53"}'The Batch tab sends up to 1000 inputs in one call via /v1/biotech/gene/validate/batch.
Example response
{
"symbol": "p53",
"valid": false,
"status": "alias",
"canonical_symbol": "TP53",
"note": "p53 is an alias for TP53"
}FAQ
Why use this?
It answers 'is this a real human gene symbol?' against the HGNC approved list, and when the input is an old or alternate name it tells you the current approved symbol it maps to. Note `valid` is true only for the CURRENT approved symbol, so branch on `status` (approved / alias / previous / unknown), not the boolean alone. Cleaner than asking a model, which may accept invented symbols.
What do the statuses mean?
'approved' means it's a current valid symbol (valid is true). 'alias' or 'previous' means it's a recognized older or alternate name: valid is false, but canonical_symbol gives you the current symbol to use. 'unknown' means it isn't a known gene at all.
What does it not do?
Human genes only, and it gives a yes/no plus the canonical form, not the full gene record. Use gene lookup for that. The match is exact, so it's deterministic and authoritative: any real dictionary verdict (approved, alias, previous, or a genuine unknown) comes back at confidence 1.0, while an empty input scores 0.0 since there is nothing to look up.
What happens with an unrecognized symbol?
You still get a clean result (valid false, status 'unknown', with a note explaining why), never an error.