RESUMO
Comparison of primate genomes sequences has confirmed the evidence that substantial part of intra- and interspecies differences is provided by retroelements. Human genome contains thousands of polymorphic retroelement copies considered to be perspective molecular genetic markers of new generation. However utilization of polymorphic retroelements as molecular genetic markers is limited due to lack of systematic data on their number, genomic context and distribution among human populations. We have created first bilingual (Russian/English) internet-resource devoted to known polymorphic retroelements discovered in human genome by our group as well as by other researchers worldwide. The database contains information about each retroelement copy location, position relative to known and predicted genes, frequency of alleles in human populations and others. Our internet portal allows to perform a search in database using multiple search conditions and available on http://labcfg.ibch.ru/home.html. The database provides an opportunity to investigate distribution of polymorphic retroelements in human genome and to design new genetic markers for various population and medical studies.