Difference between revisions of "Ensembl Database"

Revision as of 21:08, 29 September 2013

1. The database accessed is called Ensembl http://uswest.ensembl.org/index.html
2. The purpose of this database is to collect, organize and distribute data resources to help support research regarding the genetics and genomics of chordates. [1]
3. Ensembl contains genome information for 70 species. There is a focus on humans and major vertebrate model organisms, for example, the mouse, zebrafish and rat. [2]
4. What species are covered in the database?
5. What biological questions can it be used to answer?
6. What type (or types) of database is it (sequence, structure model organism, or specialty [what?]; primary or “meta”; curated electronically, manually [in-house], manually [community])?
7. What individual or organization maintains the database?
8. What is their funding source(s)?
9. Is there a license agreement or any restrictions on access to the database?
10. How often is the database updated? When was the last update?
11. Are there links to other databases?
12. Can the information be downloaded?
    • In what file formats?
13. Evaluate the “user-friendliness” of the database.
    • Is the Web site well-organized?
    • Does it have a help section or tutorial?
    • Run a sample query. Do the results make sense?

Viktoria Kuehn