Searching WormBase for information about Caenorhabditis elegans.
Erich M Schwarz1, Paul W Sternberg
1California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
Current Protocols in Bioinformatics
|April 23, 2008
Summary
WormBase is a comprehensive biological database for the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, providing integrated genomic and trait data. It supports diverse biological research by offering interconnected information and user-driven improvements.
Area of Science:
- * Nematology
- * Bioinformatics
- * Genomics
Background:
- * WormBase is the primary public biological database for the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
- * It serves biologists across all specialties interested in C. elegans research.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To provide a centralized, integrated resource for C. elegans genomic and biological data.
- * To facilitate research by interconnecting diverse data types, enabling complex data set searches.
Main Methods:
- * Curation and integration of genomic sequence data for C. elegans, C. briggsae, and C. remanei.
- * Development of an interconnected database structure allowing cross-referencing of genes, sequences, and traits.
- * Implementation of search functionalities for individual objects and complex data sets.
Main Results:
- * Comprehensive repository of C. elegans genomic sequence, gene information, and higher-level traits (e.g., gene expression, neuronal connectivity).
- * Inclusion of genomic sequences and gene structures for related nematodes, C. briggsae and C. remanei.
- * Interconnected data model enabling navigation between related biological entities.
Conclusions:
- * WormBase is an essential, versatile resource for the C. elegans research community.
- * The database actively incorporates user feedback for continuous improvement.
- * Source code and database are freely available for local use and modification.
