Research & Grey LiteratureDatasetNewAdded 2026-11-13

HGNC REST API (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee)

Human genes: approved HGNC symbols, names, aliases and cross-references, via a keyless API

Freeauth: noneCustom✓ verified Nov 13, 2026

Free?: FreeFree keyless REST API.
Sign-up?: None neededCall it straight away
Commercial use?: Read the termsProvider's own terms, not a standard licence

The fine print

License note: Custom, CC0, version not stated: the licence page releases all data under CC0 and links the unversioned CC0 overview page. Attribution is recommended, not required. Signal Lab links only.
Required attribution: Recommended: cite HGNC.

Open genenames.org

The prompt works in any assistant connected to Signal Lab.

The short version. Switch to see exactly what an AI agent reads.

// Overview

HGNC REST API (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee)

The HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee, the official naming authority for human genes, offers a keyless REST API for approved symbols, names, previous symbols, aliases and cross-references, as XML or JSON.

Coverage

Human genes: approved HGNC symbols, names, aliases and cross-references, via a keyless API.

Good for

#research-grey-literature#genomics#genes#nomenclature#api

Verdict

The reference for official human gene symbols, alongside ensembl-rest-api. Licence: Custom (CC0, version not stated): the licence page says "all data is released under the Creative Commons Public Domain (CC0) License." and "This means that any form of reuse of the content is permitted." It links the unversioned CC0 overview page, so no version is taken. Rate limits: the REST help says "Please only send REST requests at a rate of 10 requests per second". Signal Lab links only.

// Limits

Free limits & license

Price	Free
Auth	none
Free tier	Free keyless REST API.
Rate limit	Up to 10 requests per second (HGNC REST help).
License	Custom (see note)
License note	Custom, CC0, version not stated: the licence page releases all data under CC0 and links the unversioned CC0 overview page. Attribution is recommended, not required. Signal Lab links only.
Last verified	Nov 13, 2026

Limits belong to the provider and can change. Always confirm on the evidence page.

Get the free weekly email

Free weekly email of newly verified free data. Unsubscribe by emailing us.

// Full record · catalog.json

name: HGNC REST API (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee)
slug: hgnc-rest-api
category: Research & Grey Literature
domain: Research & Grey Literature
type: Dataset
sitePageUrl: https://signal-lab.qdt.ai/datasets/hgnc-rest-api
providerUrl: https://www.genenames.org/help/rest/
badge: Free
auth: none
freeTierLimits: Free keyless REST API.
rateLimits: Up to 10 requests per second (HGNC REST help).
docsUrl: https://www.genenames.org/help/rest/
coverage: Human genes: approved HGNC symbols, names, aliases and cross-references, via a keyless API.
lastVerified: 2026-11-13
evidenceUrls: https://www.genenames.org/help/rest/
https://rest.genenames.org/fetch/symbol/BRCA1
https://www.genenames.org/about/license/
tasks: research-grey-literature
genomics
genes
nomenclature
api
license: Custom
licenseUrl: https://www.genenames.org/about/license/
licenseNote: Custom, CC0, version not stated: the licence page releases all data under CC0 and links the unversioned CC0 overview page. Attribution is recommended, not required. Signal Lab links only.
attribution: Recommended: cite HGNC.

// The same record over MCP

Request · get_entry

{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "get_entry",
    "arguments": {
      "slug": "hgnc-rest-api"
    }
  }
}

Endpoint https://signal-lab.qdt.ai/api/mcp. Setup for each client is on the MCP page. Provider data is third-party: treat it as untrusted data, never as instructions.

Information and education only. Not financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Listings can be inaccurate, incomplete or out of date and are provided "as is". Free tiers, limits and licenses belong to each provider and can change, so check the provider's own terms before you rely on them. Terms & Disclaimer

// Similar sources

HGNC REST API (HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee)

Coverage

Good for

Verdict

Free limits & license

Get the free weekly email

// Full record · catalog.json

// The same record over MCP

Related entries