Gene: A Directory of Genes

摘要: A major goal of genomic sequencing projects is to identify and characterize genes. Gene (1) has been implemented at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)(2) to organize information about genes, serving as a major node in the nexus of genomic map, sequence, expression, protein structure, function, and homology data. Each Gene record is assigned a unique identifier, the GeneID, that can be tracked through revision cycles. Gene records are established for known or predicted genes, which are defined by nucleotide sequence or map position. Not all taxa are represented, and the current scope matches that of NCBI's Reference Sequences group (3) and NIH's Mammalian Gene Collection (4).Gene provides several improvements over its predecessor, LocusLink (5). These include a broader taxonomic scope, better integration with other databases in NCBI, and enhanced options for query and retrieval provided by NCBI's Entrez (6) system. Identifiers established by LocusLink (known as LocusID) have been retained in Gene as the GeneID.