rare SNP or SNV

Question

[prasundutta87]

Hi,

Can a rare variant (point mutation) be called a rare SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) or instead should be called a rare SNV (single nucleotide variant)? This is because the word 'SNP' refers to single base variations that have risen to a frequency greater than 1% of the population. Just to add, I am referring to rare variants as single point mutation with 0 < MAF < 0.05 where MAF is minor allele frequency.

[Kevin Blighe]

There is no consensus. I provided some thoughts here: A: Genotyping, genotype calling or SNP calling?