For every model organism whose genome is being sequenced, a community of researchers clamors for the data. Model organism databases often provide the necessary interface to such information, but they can be difficult to set up, maintain, and make conversant with other databases. Enter the Generic Model Organism Database (GMOD) project
GMOD's long-term goal, says project coordinator Scott Cain, is to create a suite of application tools (e.g., for browsing, curation, annotation, and expression analysis) that would work together seamlessly to create a MOD. Currently 30 components in various stages of development are in place, but the integration has lagged. "GMOD is a strange project in that it is very Balkanized," says Cain. "All these little groups all over the place work on their little piece; it's frequently very difficult to see the big picture."
In January, GMOD released its first integrated toolset. Comprising a database schema called Chado, ...
