Recommended links
If you would like to recommend a link to be included on the list please send the URL and a brief comment about the aims and usefulness of the site to naturereviews@nature.com (although, please note that we cannot guarantee to add the link you recommend).
General Reference
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Genetics virtual library
A catalogue covering genetics in the biosciences.
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The www library: model organisms
A catalogue of internet resources relating to biological model organisms.
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Virtual library of developmental biology
Featuring developmental stages, organisms, resources, journals and departments.
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The Encyclopedia of Life Sciences
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Genetics glossary
A searchable genetics glossary of over 600 terms.
Conferences
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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meetings and Courses
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Fly meetings
Listings of meetings and conferences of interest to the Drosophila community.
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Human genome and biotechnology meetings calendar
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Gordon Research Conferences
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Keystone Symposia
Societies
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Society for Developmental Biology
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Human genome organisation
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British Society for Developmental Biology
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US Genetics Societies
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The Genetical Society
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American Association for Cancer Research
Genomes
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NCBI's Entrez Genomes
The NCBI's Entrez Genomes is the place to go to for whole genome information on over 600 organisms that have been or are in the process of being sequenced. Its Related Resources link provides access to bioinformatics tools and to the major sequencing centres.
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TIGR microbial database
A detailed status list of published and in-progress microbial genome projects and where they are being done.
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Genome programs
Under the auspices of the Organelle Genome Megasequencing Program this site provides links to a host of genome programs, from organelles to eubacteria, to metazoans. Lots of useful genomic links can be found here as well.
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Genomes Online Database (GOLD)
A web resource that provides comprehensive access to information regarding complete and ongoing genome projects worldwide. This site keeps track of these projects and provides regular updates on their progress.
Bioinformatics
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European Bioinformatics Institute
This site provides a range of tools developed by the European Bioinformatics Institute for querying and investigating sequence data, as well as access to the Nucleotide Sequence Database. For more bioinformatics tools, go to the MRC's Human Genome Mapping Project site.
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National Center for Biotechnology Information
Through this site, the National Center for Biotechnology Information provides access to Genbank and to the Entrez databases, as well as to many tools for sequence analysis and data mining. Locuslink is also at NCBI, and for non-redundant and curated sequence data covering the fly, human, mouse, rat and zebrafish genomes, this is a site worth bookmarking.
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DNA Data Bank of Japan
Japan's sole DNA data bank collaborates with NCBI and EMBL in collating international sequence data. It contains virtually the same sequence data as Genbank and provides access to some sequence analysis tools.
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The Sanger Centre
The Sanger Centre provides descriptions here of a range of software programmes used by the Sanger Centre for the entire sequencing process, from the preparation of DNA through to clone finishing. Although the software packages are no longer available for direct downloading, they can be accessed by contacting staff at the centre.
See also organism-based resources for more bioinformatics links.
Microarrays
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Microarray links
An exhaustive list of news links, materials, and databases.
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Pat Brown's complete guide to microarraying
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Microarray-related activities at the EBI
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Stanford microarray database
This database stores raw and normalized data from microarray experiments, as well as their corresponding image files. It also provides tools for data retrieval, analysis and visualization. Data held in this database are released to the public at the researcher's discretion or upon publication.
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Gene expression omnibus
A gene expression data repository at the NCBI that is currently being built, which will provide an online resource for retrieving gene expression data from any organism or artificial source. Many types of gene expression data from microarray, high-density oligonucleotide array, hybridization filter and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) experiments will be accepted, accessioned, and archived as a public data set. Online tools for retrieving and analysing this expression data, and descriptions of the data, are planned for the future.
History/Philosophy of Science
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Philosophy of Science Association
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History of Science Society
Research, publications, meetings and useful links.
Genetics and Society
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Center for Bioethics at uPenn
Bioethics.net is produced at the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, and is one of the internet's largest and most comprehensive bioethics site.
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Nuffield Council on Bioethics
The UK's Nuffield Council on Bioethics debates and reports on new developments in medicine and biology that raise important ethical issues.
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Program for genomics, ethics and society
The Stanford Program in Genomics, Ethics and Society is a joint academic and industrial enterprise established to debate the social, ethical, legal and political implications of advances in human genetics.
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Centre for Applied Bioethics
The Centre for Applied Bioethics at the University of British Columbia.
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Center for Biomedical Ethics
The Case Western Reserve University's Center for Biomedical Ethics.
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Eubios Ethics Institute
Based in Japan, the Eubios Ethics Institute is a nonprofit group that aims to stimulate the international discussion of ethical issues and to use technology in ways that are consistent with "good life" (eu-bios).
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HumGen
Genetics policy information databank from the University of Montreal.
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The British Human Genetics Advisory Committee
For official reports and consultation on genetic testing, insurance, and so on.
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The US Council for Responsible Genetics
For a critical view of genetics and biotechnology issues.
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The British Genetics Forum
A similar outlook to the above.
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The UK Human Genetics Commission
Organisms: vertebrates
Human
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Genecards
Genecards is an extremely user-friendly site that navigates you through information about human genes and their products. Through its extensive links to other databases, it pools together information on sequence, homologies, disease genes and databases, literature and gene function.
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The Genome Database
The Genome Database provides maps of the human genome, data on variation and information on human genes, markers, breakpoints, clones, cytogenetic markers, fragile sites, ESTs and contigs.
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Human gene nomenclature site
The HUGO nomenclature site is the place to go to be sure that you are using the right name for the right gene.
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Human genome sequencing
The G5 sequencing centres are the five main sites responsible for sequencing the human genome. They are:
- The Baylor College School of Medicine
Also here is the Human Transcript Database for access to recently cloned full-length human cDNAs. - The Sanger Centre
- The Washington University School of Medicine
WashU also hosts the mouse EST sequencing project. - The Whitehead Institute/MIT genome sequencing project
- The Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute
- The Baylor College School of Medicine
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National Human Genome Research Institute
The National Human Genome Research Institute heads the NIH's arm of the human genome project. It collates sequence data and has research programs in functional and comparative genomics, and a program on the ethical and social issues of genetics.
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Cancer Genome Anatomy Project
An interdisciplinary program from the National Cancer Institute. This site provides access to several resources with their own informatics tools that will navigate you through the molecular genetics of cancer.
Mouse
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The Mouse Genome Informatics site
The Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) site at the Jackson lab provides integrated access to several information databases on the genetics and biology of the lab mouse, including the Mouse Genome Database (MGD), the Gene Expression Database (GXD) and the Encyclopedia of the Mouse Genome. It also provides access to related resources such as the Mouse Tumor Biology database and the Rat Data resource.
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ENU mutagenesis screen project
Bookmark this site for information on the mouse ENU mutagenesis screen from the German Human Genome Project.
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Mammalian Genetics Unit, Harwell
Go to this site for information on Harwell's large-scale public/private mouse ENU mutagenesis program. You can screen for mutant phenotypes here and access information on ordering mutant mice. Mouse sequencing data, stock lists and the European Collaborative Backcross (EUCIB) are also available through this site.
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MIT/Whitehead Institute's Center for Genome Research
The MIT/Whitehead Institute's Center for Genome Research provides high density genetic maps of individual mouse chromosomes, along with information on physical maps, YAC contigs and markers.
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Baylor College of Medicine
Go to this Baylor College of Medicine site for mouse sequencing data. For EST data go to the WashU mouse EST project.
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Mouse Atlas and Gene Expression Database Project
Go to this site to find out more about the 3D Mouse Atlas and Gene Expression Database. Marvel at the 3D reconstructions of mouse embryos at different developmental stages and the detailed gene expression data that have been mapped onto them.
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Riken Mouse Encyclopedia
The Riken Mouse Encyclopedia is part of the Japanese genome project and offers a full-length cDNA clone and sequence bank of mouse genes and a mouse and human expression database, called Bodymap, among its resources.
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory keeps stocks of radiation and chemically mutagenised mice and is home to the specific locus test for screening mutant mice.
Neuroscience Gateway
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The Neuroscience Gateway is a comprehensive source for the latest research, news and events in neuroscience and neuroinformatics brought to you by Nature Publishing Group.
Dog
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Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
If you want to know more about the dog genome project or need genetic markers or maps, this site at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is where to go.
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The Canine Radiation Hybrid Mapping Project
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On-line Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA)
On-line Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) is modelled on OMIM and documents genes and traits in a wide range of animal species that don't have a database already dedicated to them.
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Matthew Breen's laboratory
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Dog genome resources at NCBI
Zebrafish
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Zebrafish information network
The zebrafish information network, provides links on zebrafish anatomy, husbandry, informatics, news, people and resources.
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Tübingen map of the zebrafish genome
The combined radiation hybrid and genetic map of every zebrafish linkage group, assembled from genomic data from different sources and maintained by Robert Geisler.
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Atlas of zebrafish anatomy
A clickable guide of the anatomy of the 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo. It is built up in sections, so you can see what the embryo looks like inside!
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Zebrafish microsatellite map server
An online database displaying information from the current 2000-microsatellite marker map of Shimoda et al. (1999) and new markers generated as part of the NIH Genomic Resources for the Zebrafish RFA. The database is updated quarterly..
Organisms: invertebrates
Flies
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FlyBase
FlyBase: a joint project of the Berkeley and European Drosophila Genome Projects. This site contains everything on the genetics and molecular biology of the fruitfly: a comprehensive resource link for genes, stocks, people, references. This site includes links to the new GadFly (genome annotation database of Drosophila) site:
to locate predicted genes using searches for sequence similarity, map position or function. -
The interactive fly
For a comprehensive view of fly genes and their roles in development. You can search genes by alphabetical order, stage or place in development in which they operate or by developmental /biochemical pathway.
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Flyview
A database of fly gene expression patterns.
Worm
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Wormbase
Mapping, sequencing and phenotypic information on the worm C. elegans.
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Caenorhabditis elegans WWW server
Meetings, basics of C.elegans.
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C.elegans genome project
Home of the C. elegans genome project where you can access the worm sequence data. A database merges the annotated genomic sequence data with maps, genetics and bibliographic information.
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Nematode Educational Resources Server
A resource for researchers, graduate students and teachers.
Other organisms
Fungi
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Fungal Genetics Stock Centre
A one-stop shop for the fungal genetics community for information on fungi, fungal genes and symbols, and where to find that strain you need. It also provides on-line access to the Fungal Genetics Newsletter.
Yeast
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WWW Virtual Library of Yeasts: Budding, Fission and Candida
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Pombeweb
Contains a compendium of S. pombe links, managed by the Forsburg lab.
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National Collection of Yeast Cultures
The National Collection of Yeast Strains at the Institute of Food Research in Norwich tells you where to get the pombe you need. They have an excellent and wide-ranging S. pombe collection. But also see http://www.atcc.org/ in the US, which has developed a small collection of pombe strains and plasmids to get you started.
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Information on Schizosaccharomyces pombe
On this page, you will find information on the molecular biology, genome sequencing, resources, and early research history of the model yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, as well as a description and illustration of the pombe life cycle, and animation of Schiz. pombe cell division cycle and a Fission Yeast Handbook with research protocols.
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Stanford genomic resources
A fully comprehensive Saccharomyces link to resources, labs and departments at Stanford with access to the Saccharomyces Genome Database — a scientific database of the molecular biology and genetics of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the baker's or budding yeast.
Slime mould
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The Dictyostelium www server
The dictyostelium www server, featuring background information on the uses of slime moulds in genetics and development, news, reference library, techniques and links to cDNA and genome projects as well as individual research labs.
Plants
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Arabinet
Arabinet: Stock centres, genome update etc on plants at MGH Harvard.
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Nottingham Arabidopsis Stock Centre
The WWW server carries detailed information about seed stocks, how to grow and store Arabidopsis, the control of pests and diseases, as well as information about the other Arabidopsis Centres. You may also register your name, and order stocks entirely through the web.
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TAIR
The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) provides a comprehensive resource for the scientific community working with Arabidopsis thaliana.
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UK CropNet
The Plant Genome and Other Organisms Genome databases. A searchable genome database for all kinds of plants, with entries for animals too.
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GARNet
A UK-based portal to publicly available Arabidopsis thaliana genomics resources.
Bacteria
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome database
The genome database for the Pseudomonas community, from the Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Queensland.
Evolutionary and population genetics
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Phylogenetics resources
A good hub for Phylogenetics: useful sites for those who want to understand the relationship between the different kinds of life on earth.
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Biology links: Evolution
General evolution resources (departments, teaching material, journals) from Harvard University.
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Population genetics statistics programmes
A PC-based program for performing analyses of population structure, genetic differentiation and gene flow using microsatellite data. Here are links to other population genetics statistics programmes: GENEPOP, GENETIX, ARLEQUIN, Gene flow-related software and HY-PHY.
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Conservation genetics resources
http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/biology/CBCN/genetics/
A comprehensive view of the issues in conservation genetics, case histories and genetic methods.http://www.consbio.umn.edu/LinksConsGen.php
A resource list of journals, people, software, books and references from which to learn more, and useful links to databases
Genetics Education
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Genetics science learning centre at the University of Utah
With links to basic genetic information, genetic disorders, genetics in society and genetic thematic units, biographies and teaching tools.
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The DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor
An animated primer on the basics of DNA, genes and heredity.
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Mendelweb
An educational resource for teachers and students interested in the origins of classical genetics, introductory data analysis, elementary plant science, and the history and literature of science.