RESUMO
Rapid progress in genome research creates a wealth of information on the functional annotation of mammalian genome sequences. However, as we accumulate large amounts of scientific information we are facing problems of how to integrate and relate the data produced by various genomic approaches. Here, we propose the novel concept of an organ atlas where diverse data from expression maps to histological findings to mutant phenotypes can be queried, compared and visualized in the context of a three-dimensional reconstruction of the organ. We will seek proof of concept for the organ atlas by elucidating genetic pathways involved in development and pathophysiology of the kidney. Such a kidney atlas may provide a paradigm for a new systems-biology approach in functional genome research aimed at understanding the genetic bases of organ development, physiology and disease.
RESUMO
Small developmental databases, devoted to special systems and run by a normal research laboratory, differ qualitatively as well as quantitatively from larger databases described elsewhere in this volume. Resource limits set different optimum balances between computing elegance and ease of construction, while flexibility of design and semantics often assume greatest importance because specialist research databases are most useful when understanding of the biology is partial and still evolving. In this article we discuss the main considerations when building a small database-scope, access, data input, storage, searching and semantics-and illustrate them with examples of real working databases.Copyright 1997 Academic Press Limited Copyright 1997Academic Press Limited
