● http://www.gmod.org/

Model organism databases, such as FlyBase, Mouse Genome Database (MGD), Saccharomyces Genome Database (SGD) and WormBase are invaluable for teaching and research. Through expert curation, they integrate many types of information, including genetic maps, DNA sequence, gene structure and function, and the literature. But those who work on less popular experimental organisms are not so well served.

Enter the Generic Model Organism Database (GMOD) project. The idea of this project is to capitalize on the experience of the designers of the existing model organism databases to derive a set of tools that can be used to construct a database for any model organism. The project is being funded by the NIH, and is intended to reduce the costs of constructing individual databases, so that when the Mymodelis tops community decide to develop their own database, the tools are ready and waiting.

The GMOD project is at an early stage, and needs ideas from potential users and developers. What information should be included in the databases? Which tools are most valuable? To participate in these discussions go to the GMOD website and visit the Forums section.

Seeing is believing

● http://vischeck.com/

Colour blindness is a relatively common genetic condition — particularly among males — and can obscure the message in coloured images. Vischeck allows users to view graphics and web pages as though they suffer from different types of colour blindness. Vischeck is therefore a valuable tool for considering the needs of colour-blind individuals and for improving the accessibility of any graphic.