European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambs CB10 1SD, UK.
BMC Genomics. 2010 May 11;11:295. doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-295.
The number of databases in molecular biological fields has rapidly increased to provide a large-scale resource. Though valuable information is available, data can be difficult to access, compare and integrate due to different formats and presentations of web interfaces. This paper offers a practical guide to the integration of gene, comparative genomic, and functional genomics data using the Ensembl website at http://www.ensembl.org.The Ensembl genome browser and underlying databases focus on chordate organisms. More species such as plants and microorganisms can be investigated using our sister browser at http://www.ensemblgenomes.org.In this study, four examples are used that sample many pages and features of the Ensembl browser. We focus on comparative studies across over 50 mostly chordate organisms, variations linked to disease, functional genomics, and access of external information housed in databases outside the Ensembl project. Researchers will learn how to go beyond simply exporting one gene sequence, and explore how a genome browser can integrate data from various sources and databases to build a full and comprehensive biological picture.
分子生物学领域的数据库数量迅速增加，提供了大规模的资源。虽然有有价值的信息，但由于网络界面的格式和呈现方式不同，数据可能难以访问、比较和集成。本文提供了一个实用指南，介绍如何使用 http://www.ensembl.org 上的 Ensembl 网站整合基因、比较基因组和功能基因组数据。Ensembl 基因组浏览器和基础数据库专注于脊索动物生物。使用我们在 http://www.ensemblgenomes.org 上的姊妹浏览器，可以研究更多的物种，如植物和微生物。在这项研究中，我们使用了四个示例，它们涉及 Ensembl 浏览器的许多页面和功能。我们专注于跨越 50 多个主要脊索动物生物的比较研究、与疾病相关的变异、功能基因组学以及外部信息数据库的访问，这些数据库不在 Ensembl 项目中。研究人员将了解如何不仅仅是导出一个基因序列，而是探索基因组浏览器如何整合来自各种来源和数据库的数据，以构建完整和全面的生物学图像。
