The SENEX Project: knowledge representation in molecular pathology

SENEX is a computer program for students, educators, and research investigators in the domain of molecular pathology. The application allows an individual to ask a sequence of questions in a single interactive session, thereby facilitating the development and testing of several hypotheses in a short period of time. Graphical representations of molecules and molecular events help enable individuals to grasp spatial and functional relationships (and in the future, temporal relationships) among molecules, cellular compartments, and cell regions. Fairly simple but well-defined reasoning capabilities allow an individual to ask sophisticated questions and to predict novel molecular events or pathways. SENEX contains information about: 1) molecules and the motifs that impart function to these molecules; 2) molecular events; 3) cell-specific expression of genes; 4) disease processes. SENEX is being developed through object-oriented programming in a portable programming environment supported by COMMON LISP and the COMMON LISP INTERFACE MANAGER.