GO Annotations

URL: https://geneontology.org/docs/go-annotations/

Description: A GO annotation is a statement about the function of a particular gene. GO annotations are created by associating a gene or gene product with a GO term. Together, these statements comprise a “snapshot” of current biological knowledge. Hence, GO annotations capture statements about how a gene functions at the molecular level, where in the cell it functions, and what biological processes (pathways, programs) it helps to carry out.

There are four pieces of information that uniquely identify a GO annotation. Although there are additional components a curator can use to indicate more information, including qualifiers and annotation extensions, the minimum information supporting an annotation consists of:

• Gene product (may be a protein, RNA, etc.)
• GO term
• Reference
• Evidence

Example record:

Additional links:

• Gene Ontology Resources page: http://www.geneontology.org/