Future vision of the GDB human genome database

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Human Genetics

Background:

• The Human Gene Mapping Workshop began in 1973, mapping 64 genes.
• The GDB Human Genome Database was established in 1989 with 1,700 mapped genes.
• The human genome project is nearing completion, identifying up to 100,000 genes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the evolution and ongoing development of the GDB Human Genome Database.
• To address the increasing burden on scientists collecting data from multiple online biological information sources.
• To enhance the GDB's role as a central, curated resource for human genome data.

Main Methods:

• Continued curation and data loading from major genome centers.
• Accepting submissions from researchers worldwide.
• Developing mechanisms to link gene information to the human reference sequence.
• Establishing federated linkages with specialized databases.

Main Results:

• GDB has expanded its data compilation to include maps, map objects, polymorphisms, and mutations.
• The database is adapting to manage a significantly larger volume of human gene information.
• Efforts are underway to create a more integrated and accessible human genome data resource.

Conclusions:

• GDB remains a vital, curated resource for human genome data.
• The database is evolving to meet the challenges of comprehensive genomic data management.
• Federated linkages will enhance GDB's utility by connecting diverse, specialized datasets.