Model organism database


Model organism databases are biological databases, or knowledgebases, dedicated to the provision of in-depth biological data for intensively studied model organisms. MODs allow researchers to easily find background information on large sets of genes, plan experiments efficiently, combine their data with existing knowledge, and construct novel hypotheses. They allow users to analyse results and interpret datasets, and the data they generate are increasingly used to describe less well studied species. Where possible, MODs share common approaches to collect and represent biological information. For example, all MODs use the Gene Ontology to describe functions, processes and cellular locations of specific gene products. Projects also exist to enable software sharing for curation, visualization and querying between different MODs. Organismal diversity and varying user requirements however mean that MODs are often required to customize capture, display, and provision of data.

Types of data and services

Model organism databases generate, source and collate species-specific information integratively by combining expert knowledge with literature curation and bioinformatics.
Services provided to biological research communities include:
Common nameScientific nameWikipedia pageDatabase link-out
Baker's yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeSaccharomyces Genome Database
Fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombePomBase
Clawed frogXenopusXenbase
FruitflyDrosophila melanogasterFlyBase
MouseMus musculusMouse Genome Informatics
NematodeCaenorhabditis elegansWormBase
RatRattus norvegicusRat Genome Database
Social amoebaDictyostelium discoideumDictyBase
Thale cressArabidopsis thalianaThe Arabidopsis Information Resource
ZebrafishDanio rerioZebrafish Information Network
-Candida albicans-
-Escherichia coliEcoCyc