Modifying script: NameError: name '' is not defined

Question

I am having problems with modifying a code written by someone else. Basically, trying to get the script to read a list of inputs(gene names) but I'm getting the following error:

NameError: name 'gene_name' is not defined

Below is the code:

import csv

fullout = np.empty((1,3704))

def gene_list(gene_name):
    gene_list = open('C:\Users\Work\Desktop\Book1.csv', 'rU'), f
    gene_list = []
    reader = csv.reader(f)
    for row in reader:
        gene_name = "row.strip()"

for gene_name in gene_list(gene_name):
    if __name__ == '__main__':
        with gene_list:
            reader = csv.reader(f)
        for row in reader: 
            gene_name = row
            probes_dict = get_probes_from_genes(gene_name)
        expression_values, well_ids, donor_names = get_expression_values_from_probe_ids_hdf(
                probes_dict.keys())
        print get_mni_coordinates_from_wells(well_ids)`

Answer 1

gene_name is defined inside the scope of the function, as remarked by Padraic Cunningham. Once the function is over, you can't use this variable anymore.

I recommend you to read the docs about scopes. Scopes and Namespaces