Scientific Seminar: Wen Chen, Ph.D.

Ever since the beginning of genome sequencing, databases have been essential tools for biological research. WormBase (www.wormbase.org) has been serving the scientific community since 2000 as a central repository of genomic and genetic information for C. elegans and other nematodes. We have been manually curating research results from published literature with the assistance of artificial intelligence. WormBase continues to expand as it seeks to cover all data from the growing research community, which includes those from new technologies and more species. WormBase ParaSite now has over 100 nematode genomes. At the same time, WormBase has been striving to provide users with tools to navigate through the vast amount of data in our collection to find what they need. Over the years, these search tools have grown to include Textpresso, Ontology Browser,  WormMine, SimpleMine, WormBase SPELL, Parasite WormMart, and JBrowse. I will introduce some of these tools with real examples from biological research.

WormBase is fully engaged in the Alliance of Genome Resources (www.alliancegenome.org), which uses the combined expertise of seven information resources (WormBase, MGI, RGD, FlyBase, SGD, ZFIN and GO) to deliver better services to all our communities. The mission, progress and future plans of the Alliance of Genome Resources will be briefed, and questions will be answered on how these will impact the research community.