If you are after access to the draft human genome sequence, then go to The Golden Path for a searchable, zoomable, scrollable view.

Searching for genomic loci is easy — several types of search term can be used, including gene names, clone identity numbers or keywords. Once found, a genomic location appears in a display window where zoom functions can take you from its chromosomal setting to its detailed exon–intron structure.

The main window provides several types of genomic information, and finding your way to more detailed data just requires a click on the displayed graphics. The fragment track, for example, shows clone assembly in the region and any gaps between clones. Genes in the genomic region are displayed from data processed by either Genie or Ensembl. Clicking on a displayed mRNA takes you through to a brief description of it and onto further, more detailed, links, such as its Genbank record. Information on ESTs, repeats, G+C content and puffer fish homologues can also be selected.

The browser displays draft sequence that was annotated and assembled as of July 2000, but links are available to a data set from September 2000. This assembled data is currently being annotated, and Jim Kent, the browser's developer, hopes to have it available at The Golden Path in the next month or so.