Genetics databases catalog the "building blocks of life" — the DNA, RNA, and protein sequences which make up organisms. Computer access is the only way to retrieve up-to-date sequences and this book shows researchers puzzled by the maze of URLs, sites, and searches how to use internet technology to find and analyze genetic data. The book describes the different types of databases, how to use a specific database to find a sequence that you need, and how to analyze the data to compare it with your own work.<P>The content also covers sequence phenotype, mutation, and genetic linkage databases; simple repetitive DNA sequences; gene feature identification; and prediction of structure and function of proteins from sequence information. This book will be invaluable to those starting a career in life sciences research as well as to established researchers wishing to make full use of available resources.

"Read the book from cover to cover... is rewarding and provides one with a feel for the state of the art in relation to data mining from genetics databases... I would highly recommend the book to anyone currently doing research in the biological sciences and molecular or genetic science in particular" - Today's Life Sciences

Computer access is the only way to retrieve up-to-date nucleic acid and protein sequence and structure information.

This book, edited by Martin Bishop, describes the available information and where to find it, and is essential reading for any researcher puzzled by the wealth of on-line data.

The reader will be guided through the maze of URLs, sites and searches to reach information on:

* DNA, RNA, protein sequence, and structure databases

* Sequence comparison and alignmen

* Phenotype, mutation and genetic linkage databases

* Simple repetitive DNA sequences

* Gene feature identification

* Prediction of structure and function of proteins from sequence information

The book includes a directory of URLs for easy reference and it will be invaluable to those starting a career in life sciences research and also for established researchers wishing to make full use of available resources.

ife sciences research and also for established researchers wishing to make full use of available resources.

Martin Bishop works for the British Medicinal Resource Council as Bioinformatics Manager at the U.K. Human Genome Mapping Project Resource Centre.

M. Bishop, Introduction.

G. Williams, Nucleic Acid and Protein Sequence Databases.

R. Cotton, Phenotype, Mutation, and Genetic Linkage Databases and Their Links to Sequence Databases.

R. Guigo, DNA Composition, Codon Usage, and Exon Prediction.

W. Taylor, Properties of Amino Acids in Sequences.

M. Gribskov, Sequence Comparison.

J. Epplen, Simple Repetitive Sequences in DNA Databanks.

P. Bucher, Gene Feature Identification.

D. Higgins, Multiple Sequence Alignment.

K. Triman, RNAs.

C. Ponting and D.J. Blake, Predicting the Evolution, Structure, and Function of Proteins from Sequence Information.

D. Jones, Structure Databases and Structure Alignments.

M. Gribskov, Bourne, Smith, Integrated Data Resource for Protein Kinases.

R. Baldock, Gene Expression Databases.

P.D. Karp, Pathways and Development.