data” approaches underscores the idea that both laboratory and computationally based strategies will be necessary in carrying out cutting-edge research. In the same way that investigators are trained in, for example, basic biochemistry and molecular biology methodologies, a basic understanding of bioinformatic techniques as part of the biologist's arsenal will be indispensable in the future. As is undoubtedly apparent at this point, there is no substitute for placing one's hands on the computer keyboard to learn how to search and use genomic sequence data effectively. Readers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the resources presented here, to grow in confidence and capability by working with the available tools, and to begin to apply bioinformatic methods and strategies toward advancing their own research interests.
Internet Resources
| Alliance of Genome Resources | www.alliancegenome.org |
| Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) | ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | clinicaltrials.gov |
| DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ) | www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp |
| European Molecular Biology Laboratory–European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) | www.ebi.ac.uk |
| GenBank | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank |
| iCn3D | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/icn3d/docs/icn3d_about.html |
| Mouse Genome Database (MGD) | informatics.jax.org |
| Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) | omim.org |
| Protein Data Bank (PDB) | www.rcsb.org/pdb |
| RefSeq | ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq |
| Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Database (dbSNP) | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP |
| Vector Alignment Search Tool (VAST) | www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/VAST |
| Zebrafish Information Network (ZFIN) | zfin.org |
Further Reading
1 Baxevanis, A.D. (2012). Searching Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) for information on genetic loci involved in human disease. Curr. Protoc. Hum. Genet. Chapter 9, Unit 9.13.1–10. A protocol-driven description of the basic methodology for formulating OMIM searches and a discussion of the types of information available through OMIM, including descriptions of clinical manifestations resulting from genetic abnormalities.
2 Galperin, M.Y., Fernández-Suárez, X.M., and Rigden, D.J. (2017). The 24th annual Nucleic Acids Research database issue: a look back and upcoming changes. Nucleic Acids Res. 45: D1–D11. A curated, annual review of specialized databases of interest and importance to the biomedical research community.
References
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3 Benson, D.A., Cavanaugh, M., Clark, K. et al. (2017). GenBank. Nucleic Acids Res. 45: D37–D42.
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8 Galperin, M.Y., Fernández-Suárez, X.M., and Rigden, D.J. (2017). The 24th annual Nucleic Acids Research database issue: a look back and upcoming changes. Nucleic Acids Res. 45: D1–D11.
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17 Schmutz,
