diff --git a/wc_kb_gen/core.py b/wc_kb_gen/core.py
index 1f8bfd3..00b3ae2 100644
--- a/wc_kb_gen/core.py
+++ b/wc_kb_gen/core.py
@@ -12,12 +12,18 @@
 class KbGenerator(object):
     """ Generator for knowledge bases of experimental data for whole-cell models
 
+    Options:
+
+    * id
+    * name
+    * component
+
     Attributes:
         component_generators (:obj:`list` of :obj:`KbComponentGenerator`): component 
             generators of the knowledge base
         options (:obj:`dict`, optional): dictionary of options whose keys are the names
             of component generator classes and whose values are dictionaries of options
-            for the component generator classes
+            for the component generator classes    
     """
 
     DEFAULT_COMPONENT_GENERATORS = ()
@@ -43,6 +49,8 @@ def run(self):
             :obj:`wc_kb.KnowledgeBase`: knowledge base
         """
 
+        self.clean_and_validate_options()
+
         kb = wc_kb.KnowledgeBase()
         kb.id = self.options.get('id', None)
         kb.version = self.options.get('version', None)
@@ -56,6 +64,10 @@ def run(self):
 
         return kb
 
+    def clean_and_validate_options(self):
+        """ Apply default options and validate options """
+        pass  # pragma: no cover
+
 
 class KbComponentGenerator(object):
     """ Base class for knowledge base component generators