Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This page describes a few of the many print and electronic resources that will be useful for research in biochemistry and molecular biology. See also the Subject Guide pages for Chemistry and Biology for related resources.

Reference Sources

Dictionaries | Encyclopedias | Handbooks and Laboratory Manuals

The following is a list of a few of the many reference sources available in the Timken Science Library that will be useful for locating information in biochemistry and cell and molecular biology. For a more extensive database of science reference sources available at the College, and more detailed descriptions, see Selected Bibliography of Science Reference Sources.

Dictionaries

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms Science Reference Q123 .M15 2003 Also ONLINE

This dictionary is intended for the scientific and engineering specialist as well as for the nonspecialist needing a comprehensive yet accessible resource for scientific terminology. Terms are identified by field of use.

Dictionary of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Science Reference QH324.2 .D53 2004

This dictionary provides undergraduate and postgraduate students with clear definitions of the fundamental concepts of bioinformatics and computational biology.

Dictionary of DNA and Genome Technology Science Reference QH442 .S548 2008

This dictionary provides current detailed information on the terms, techniques, tests and commercial systems used in the field.

Dictionary of Gene Technology: Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics Science Reference QH506 .K333 2004 v.1-2

More than 9000 entries reflect terminology of the fields of biotechnology, genetic engineering and molecular genetics, focusing on nucleic acids, their structure, modification, processing and functional analysis.

Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Science Reference QP512 .O94 2000 and ONLINE 2008

More than 17,000 entries give details of biochemical substances and the processes in which they are involved, define methods and concepts in molecular biology, and give definitions of biochemical symbols and abbreviations. Alternative names for biochemical compounds are listed. Entries also include the structures and activities of chemical compounds of interest to biochemists. More than 2000 protein and enzyme entries describe the functions they perform and reactions they catalyze.

Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology Science Reference QR9 .S56 2001

Provides clear and timely definitions for the terminology of modern microbiology and molecular biology, while integrating the overall biological context of the field. Makes extensive use of cross-references, and includes references to recent papers, reviews and monographs in microbiology and related fields.

Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology Science Reference QR180.4 .C78 2003

This volume provides up-to-date and thorough vocabulary of immunological terms. It contains approximately 1200 illustrations which aid in the understanding of important concepts.

Encyclopedias

AccessScience@McGraw-Hill: The Online Encyclopedia

This is the electronic access version of the 10^th edition of McGraw-Hill’s Encyclopedia of Science and Technology WOO Science Reference Q121 .M3 2002 v.1-20, a highly technical encyclopedia in the sciences. The Web site provides fully searchable content from more than 8,500 articles in the latest edition of the encyclopedia as well as definitions from McGraw Hill’s Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, biographies of more than 2,000 scientists, bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations and a well-developed subject directory of Web links.

Encyclopedia of Genetics Science Reference QH427 .E53 2002 v.1-4

This four-volume encyclopedia covers the field of genetics in alphabetically arranged entries which vary in length from brief definitions to signed, multipage essays. A complete index and extensive use of cross references facilitate access.

Encyclopedia of Genetics Science Reference QH427 .E54 2001

This single-volume encyclopedia is a collection of articles on a wide variety of genetics topics, such as the origins of genetics, genetics of bacteria and viruses, human clinical genetics, DNA-based genetic analysis and biotechnology, and population genetics and evolutionary studies. The volume includes a table of contents, a glossary and a subject index.

Encyclopedia of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Science Reference QH431 .E62 2005 v.1-8

This eight-volume encyclopedia provides a multidisciplinary approach to the rapidly expanding fields of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics.

The Human Genome Sourcebook Science Reference QH437 .A245 2005

This volume provides the background needed to understand the science behind the human genome. The first three chapters provide introductory information, terminology and the physical arrangement of the chromosomes. Chapter 4 lists representative genes involved in the normal functioning of the body, and chapter 5 deals with genetic diseases.

Hormones, Brain and Behavior Science Reference QP356.45 .H433 2002 v.1-5

This five-volume work reviews hormone-brain-behavior relations from a molecular genetic approach as well as neuroanatomomical, electrophysiological, zoological, neurochemical, developmental and behavioral studies.

Handbook of Cell Signaling Science Reference QP517 .C45 H36 2004 v.1-3

This three-volume reference organizes the topic of cell signaling into five sections:

1. Initiation: Extracellular and Membrane Events
2. Transmission: Effectors and Cytosolic Events
3. Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Events: Transcriptional and Post-Transcriptional Regulation
4. Events in Intracellular Compartments
5. Cell-Cell and Cell-Matrix Interactions

Escherichia coli and Salmonella: Cellular and Molecular Biology Science Reference QR82 .E6 E83 1996 v.1-2

A comprehensive treatise summarizing the information amassed about these organisms.

Encyclopedia of Virology Science Reference QR358 .E53 1999 v.1-3

Brings together basic and practical aspects of virology in concise form for professionals and lay readers. Includes animal, plant, insect, and bacterial viruses.

The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease Science Reference RC627.8 .M47 2001 v.1-4

This comprehensive four-volume text describes what is currently known about inherited diseases including genetic perspectives, basic concepts, mechanisms of inheritance, diagnosis and effects of hormones. Each section includes an extensive list of references. The complete subject index facilitates access.

Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics Science Reference RM300 .G644 2006

This encyclopedic textbook provides information on the actions and therapeutic uses of drugs. The first five chapters cover the general principles of pharmacology, including Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Principles of Therapeutics, Principles of Toxicology and Treatment of Poisoning, and Gene Therapy. The following 61 chapters cover the actions of different classes of drugs. The final two chapters deal with toxicology.

Handbooks and Laboratory Manuals

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics Science Reserve QD65 .H3 2008-09

Provides the latest and most accurate ready-reference information for the chemical and physical sciences. Includes basic constants, units and conversion factors, data on the physical constants of organic and inorganic compounds, fluid properties, properties of solids and much more. A general index facilitates access to required data.

Current Protocols in Bioinformatics Science Reference QH441.2 .C876 2003 v.1-2

This reference provides insight into the types of data and protocols required to perform basic tasks in bioinformatics. Each chapter covers a general subject area and contains protocols which provide information on resources, steps and annotations, data interpretations, and commentaries on the method.

Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual Science Reference QH442.2 .M26 2001 v.1-3

This three-volume handbook provides researchers with up-to-date protocols for molecular cloning. “Information Panels” at the ends of chapters and the appendix explain how and why particular methods work and provide advice in choosing between alternative procedures. Extensive reference lists provide access to the primary literature.

Current Protocols in Molecular Biology Science Reference QH506 .C87 v.1-5

A continuously evolving loose-leaf handbook of laboratory protocols from molecular biology. Updated quarterly.

Current Protocols in Cell Biology Science Reference QH583.2 .C87 1998 v.1-3

A continuously evolving loose-leaf handbook of laboratory protocols for cell biology. Updated quarterly.

Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique Science Reference QH585.2 .F74 2000

Focuses on providing the basic techniques of cell and tissue culture in step-by-step protocols.

The Ion Channel FactsBook Science Reference QH603 .I54 C66 1996 v.1-2, v.4

Provides a summary of molecular properties for all known types of ion channel protein.

Current Protocols in Neuroscience Science Reference QP357 .C87 1999 v.1-3

This manual brings together a collection of important techniques that need to be accessible in a neurobiological laboratory. It is updated quarterly.

Current Protocols in Protein Science Science Reference QP551 .C86 1996 v.1-3

This manual provides both specific detailed protocols for protein isolation and characterization, and strategies for adapting methods to particular projects. Updated quarterly.

Handbook on Metalloproteins Science Reference QP552 .M46 H36 2001

Provides a summary of the information that has been accumulated on the metals of life and their roles in proteins.

The Enzyme Reference: A Comprehensive Guide to Enzyme Nomenclature, Reactions and Methods Science Reference QP601 .P87 2002

This handbook provides the name, alternative names, reaction, essential cofactor(s) and other details of more than 6500 enzyme catalyzed reactions. Entries cite the original paper describing a particular enzyme and/or several reviews.

Handbook of Biochemical Kinetics Science Reference QP601.3 .P87 2000

This reference source provides definitions for the terms used in biochemical kinetics, as well as longer treatments of some important concepts. The names of nearly 1000 enzymes are included along with chemical reactions, EC numbers, and biochemical and catalytic properties. The authors cite more than 5000 literature references.

The Protein Kinase FactsBook Science Reference QP606 .P76 H37 1995 v.1-2

Contains summaries for almost 200 kinases and includes subunit structure, amino acid sequences, and assays. Vol. 1: Protein-Serine Kinases Vol. 2: Protein-Tyrosine Kinases.

Current Protocols Essential Laboratory Techniques Science Reference RB36 .C87 2008

The primary aim of this reference is to explain the chemical and physical principles underlying molecular research techniques. It supplements the Current Protocols Series, including chapters on weighing and measuring volumes, spectroscopy, reagent preparation, growing bacterial and animal cells and many more fundamental techniques. It also includes appendices on how to keep a lab notebook and how to prepare and present a poster and Power Point presentation.

Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals Science Reserve RS51 .M4 2006

One-volume encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs and biological substances. Entries contain variant names, trademarks, formulas and usage. Information covers biochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, as well as a range of topics related to metabolism, agriculture and the environment.

Reviews of the Literature and Serial Monographs

Reviews of the literature survey the important primary literature sources and other works on a particular topic, usually over a given time span. They provide the bibliographic information needed to find the original works, and summarize the most important points about advances in that period.

Advances in Protein Chemistry Science Reference QD431 .A3 v.1-

International Review of Cytology: A Survey of the Cell/
International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology Science Periodicals QH573 .I5 v.1-

This series presents current advances and comprehensive reviews in cell biology.

Current Topics in Membranes and Transport/
Current Topics in Membranes Science QH601 .C84 v.1-3, 10-

Each volume in this series reviews the literature of a specific topic in membrane research.

Current Topics in Developmental Biology Science Periodicals QL951 .C8 v.1-

This series provides comprehensive reviews of research on developmental mechanisms. Most volumes in the series focus on a particular subject and are searchable in CONSORT by subject or volume title as well as series title.

Handbook of Physiology Science Reference QP6 .H25 1977-

This review series presents research results and bibliographic references. Each of the eleven sections may contain several volumes and parts. Frequent updates.

Metal Ions in Biological Systems Science Reference QP531 .S53 v.1-8, 11-13, 16, 18-

The focus of this review series is the connection between the chemistry of metal ions and their role for life.

Progress in Nucleic Acid Research and Molecular Biology Science Periodicals QP551 .P695 v.3-

This series contains articles describing recent developments in areas of nucleic acid and molecular biology research.

Methods in Enzymology Science Periodicals QP601 .C733 v.1-95 (incomplete), 113-

This series is a good source for methods and protocols in enzymology. Each volume covers a single topic with 10 or more volumes published per year.

The Enzymes Science Reference QP601 .E523 v.1-

Volumes 1-13 of the third edition of The Enzymes constitutes a multivolume treatise that covers the groups of enzymes that catalyze similar reactions. These volumes serve as a base of knowledge for subsequent volumes in an open-ended series. In these later volumes, the enzymes are grouped by their biological function instead of by the nature of the reaction catalyzed.

Annual Review series

Distinguished researchers and editors critically review and synthesize the most significant research literature in subdisciplines of the biological, medical, physical, and social sciences. Some Annual Review titles are now displaying Reviews in Advance up to seven months in advance of the print volume. Reviews in Advance are full-length reviews published online immediately after full editing and revision. Some of the titles appearing annually in biochemistry and molecular biology are listed below.

Annual Review of Biochemistry (1932 - )

Annual Review of Biophysics (2008 - )

Former titles:
Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering (1972-1984)
Annual Review of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry (1985-1991)
Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure (1992-2007)

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology (1985 - )

Annual Review of Genetics (1967- )

Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics (2000- )

Annual Review of Immunology (1983 - )

Annual Review of Microbiology (1947 - )

Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease (2006 - )

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology ( 1976 - )

Former titles:
Annual Review of Pharmacology (1961 - 1975)

Annual Review of Physiology (1939 - )

Indexes and Databases

Print and electronic indexes and abstracts provide access to the enormous quantity of science information published in widely-dispersed primary scientific literature found in journal articles. The libraries’ Databases by Title page provides access to all databases available to the college community. Online help is available within each search system and database. In addition to General Databases, there are many databases that focus entirely on the sciences. Selected Databases for Research in Science provides descriptions of the science-related databases. Indexes and databases that are especially useful for locating information in biochemistry and cell and molecular biology include:

SciFinder [Chemical Abstracts Service] (1907 to present)

SciFinder is a database search interface that provides access to chemical, biomedical, engineering, materials science, and agricultural science information and patents indexed in the Chemical Abstracts Service suite of databases, and in MEDLINE, produced by the National Library of Medicine. The new Web version of SciFinder requires each individual user to register. See Introduction to the Web Version of SciFinder for more information about registering and accessing SciFinder, and links to Help documentation.

BIOSIS Previews [OSearch] (1980 to present)

This database provides abstracts and bibliographic references to worldwide biological and medical literature. In addition to references to journal items focusing on vital biological and medical research findings, pharmacological studies, and discoveries of new organisms, the database also indexes reports, reviews and meetings.

Faculty of 1000 Biology [Biology Reports Ltd]

Faculty of 1000 Biology is an online research service that comprehensively and systematically highlights and reviews the most interesting papers published in the biological sciences, based on the recommendations of a faculty of well over 2300 selected leading researchers ("Faculty Members").

MEDLINE [EBSCOhost] (1950 - present)

MEDLINE contains bibliographic citations and author abstracts from more than 3,900 biomedical journals covering the fields of medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, and the preclinical sciences. See also: PubMed.

Science Citation Index Expanded [ISI] (1980 to present)

This multidisciplinary database covering the journal literature of science provides basic subject and author searching as well as cited reference searching, which permits searching the database for articles that cite a known author or work.

NCBI Entrez Databases

The databases produced or maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information use the web-based Entrez search and retrieval software to provide access to nucleotide and protein sequence data, 3D protein structures, and genomic mapping information, as well as to bibliographic citations to the primary biomedical literature and full text of many articles. Some of the databases include:

Entrez Nucleotide

The Entrez Nucleotide database is a collection of sequences from several sources, including GenBank, RefSeq, and PDB.

Entrez Protein

The protein entries in the Entrez search and retrieval system have been compiled from a variety of sources, including SwissProt, PIR, PRF, PDB, and translations from annotated coding regions in GenBank and RefSeq.

Entrez Genome

The genomes of both completely sequenced organisms and those for which sequencing is in progress are represented in this database which includes bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota.

Entrez Structure

The Molecular Modeling Database (MMDB) contains 3D macromolecular structures, including proteins and polynucleotides and is linked to the rest of the NCBI databases, including sequences, bibliographic citations, taxonomic classifications, and sequence and structure neighbors. Use Cn3D, the NCBI 3D structure viewer, for interactive visualization of molecular structures from Entrez.

Entrez Taxonomy

The NCBI taxonomy database contains the names of all organisms that are represented in the genetic databases with at least one nucleotide or protein sequence with links to sequence and bibliographic data in other Entrez databases.

Entrez PubMed

PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine, includes citations for biomedical articles back to the 1950s. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources. The NLM has produced an excellent PubMed Tutorial that covers the many important search features of this database.

Entrez PubChem

PubChem contains the chemical structures of small organic molecules and information on their biological activities. It is organized as three linked databases within the Entrez/PubMed information retrieval system: PubChem Substance, PubChem Compound, and PubChem BioAssay. The database also provides PubChem Structure Search, a chemical structure similarity search tool.

OMIM

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders authored and edited by Dr. Victor A. McKusick and his colleagues and developed for the World Wide Web by NCBI. The database contains textual information and references, as well as links to MEDLINE and sequence records in the Entrez system, and links to additional related resources.

NCBI Bookshelf

This collection of biomedical books can be searched by typing a concept into the Entrez textbox. The search results in a list of books that contain the searched concept and access to full text of each section where the concept appears.

PubMed Central

PubMed Central (PMC) is the National Library of Medicine’s digital archive of life sciences journal literature. Access to the full text of articles in PMC is free, except where a journal requires a subscription for access to recent articles.

Locating Full Text of Journal Articles

Once you have retrieved citations to relevant articles from print indexes and abstracts, electronic research databases, bibliographies and other sources, you will need to determine whether they are available at the College of Wooster. Many articles are available by linking from within an electronic database, but other articles may be available in print, microform or online that are not accessible by direct link from a database.

To determine whether the college has access to a particular journal title in any format, search by title from the Wooster e-Journals and Journals page. You may also browse a complete list of journal titles by subject category from the same page.

For a more detailed description of how to determine whether a journal article is available at Wooster, see Lesson 9: Finding Full Text of Journal Articles in the Guide to Library Research in Science.

Selected Internet Sites

Search Engine | Gateways | Databases | Tools
Reference Sources and Tutorials | Research Laboratories and Organizations

The following is a list of a few of the many Internet resources related to biochemistry and cell and molecular biology.

Search Engines

Google Scholar

The Google Scholar search engine locates scholarly literature from a wide variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web. Results are ranked by relevance, taking into account the full text of each article as well as the article’s author, the publication in which the article appeared and how often it has been cited in scholarly literature. Search results may include citations of older works and seminal articles that appear only in books or other offline publications.

Science.gov

This search engine searches more than 36 databases and 1850 selected web sites with 200 million pages of U.S. government science information

Gateways

CMS Molecular Biology Resource

This site, maintained at the San Diego Supercomputing Center, provides access to a collection of tools and resources for molecular biology, biochemistry and biomolecular modeling.

ExPASy Life Science Directory

Formerly known as Amos’ WWW Links, this list contains almost exclusively pointers to information sources for life scientists with an interest in biological macromolecules. The list is organized by category.

Internet Resources for Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology

Lists links to many Internet sites for molecular and cellular biology, genetics and genomes, and developmental biology.

BioChemWeb.org: The Virtual Library of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

This page provides access to resources on many topics including cell cycle and cytokinesis, enzymes, genes and gene expression, structural biology and much more. In addition, there are links to relevant databases and tools, and to methods, protocols and techniques.

Databases

ENZYME

The SWISS-PROT Enzyme Nomenclature database is a repository of information relative to the nomenclature of enzymes. It describes each type of characterized enzyme for which an EC (Enzyme Commission) number has been provided. Access by EC number, enzyme class, official or alternative name(s), chemical compound, cofactor or by search in common lines.

RCSB Protein Data Bank

The PDB is the single worldwide repository for the processing and distribution of 3-D structure data of large molecules of proteins and nucleic acids. The site provides links to many relevant resources including databases, sequence analysis tools, structure classification and analysis, and more.

RefSeq

The Reference Sequence (RefSeq) collection is a curated, non-redundant set of sequences, including genomic DNA, transcript (RNA) and protein products, for major research organisms. A representative GenBank record is used as the source for a RefSeq record with additional relevant information added by experts. There is one record for each gene, or each splice variant, from each organism represented. Each record is intended to present an encapsulation of the current understanding of a gene or protein. RefSeq is accessible through Entrez, LocusLink and BLAST.

Swiss-Prot

Swiss-Prot is a curated protein sequence database which strives to provide a high level of annotation (such as the description of the function of a protein, its domains structure, post-translational modifications, variants, etc.), a minimal level of redundancy and high level of integration with other databases. Related databases and tools are available at the ExPASy Molecular Biology Server, which is the ExPASy (Expert Protein Analysis System) proteomics server of the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB).

Tools

NCBI Tools for Data Mining

In addition to their many databases, NCBI provides a number of tools for visualizing and analyzing sequence information, including the following. For more detailed descriptions of these and other tools, see the NCBI Tools for Data Mining page. See the Education section of the NCBI site map for descriptions of and links to the many tutorials and other support materials for these important databases and analysis tools.

BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool)

The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) is a tool for comparing gene and protein sequences against others in public databases.

Cn3D

Cn3D is a helper application for your web browser that allows you to view 3-dimensional structures from NCBI’s Entrez retrieval service. Cn3D runs on Windows, Macintosh and Unix. Cn3D simultaneously displays structure, sequence and alignment, and now has powerful annotation and alignment editing features.

Map Viewer

This tool shows integrated views of chromosome maps for 17 organisms. Used to view the NCBI assembly of complete genomes, including human, Map Viewer is a valuable tool for the identification and localization of genes, particularly those that contribute to diseases.

World Index of Biomolecules

This Website consists of a list of Web pages offerings information on biochemical (and some chemical) structures with an emphasis on sites having interactive and graphical displays.

Reference Sources and Tutorials

PubMed Tutorial

This animated tutorial illustrates the scope and content of the PubMed database and takes you step-by-step through all of the search and retrieval functions.

BLAST Information

This information guide is designed to assist you in using NCBI tools such as BLAST in performing sequence alignments to detect regions of similarity embedded in proteins.

Ciliates in the Classroom

Provides protocols, background information and web links for researchers interested in using ciliates as a model system.

Cn3D 4.1 Tutorial

This NCBI tutorial is designed to guide users through the major features of Cn3D, a visualization tool for biomolecular structures, sequences, and sequence alignments.

NCBI Handbook

This handbook describes the content and functions of the NCBI databases and search engines, serving as a supplement to the online help documentation.

NCBI Tutorials

This section of the NCBI site map provides access to several tutorials designed to help researchers learn to use bioinformatics databases and analysis tools.

Protocols Online

"Protocol Online is a database of research protocols in a variety of life science fields. It contains user submitted protocols as well as links to web protocols hosted by worldwide research labs, biotech companies, personal web sites. The data is stored in a MySql relational database. Protocol Online also hosts discipline specific discussion forums and mailing lists, and provides a free PubMed search and alerting service.

PSI-nature Stuctural Genomics Knowlegebase

The Structural Genomics Knowledgebase (SGKB) is a free, comprehensive resource that offers an easy way of keeping abreast of developments both in the fields of structural genomics and structural biology. The SGKB is a continually updated portal to research data and other resources from the Protein Science Initiative. Nature Publishing Group provides a monthly update with synopses of important research advances, recent additions to a categorized library of research articles, as well as news and events in structural biology.

Web Version of Scifinder - Support and Training

This page provides access to a variety of tutorials, How To guides and advanced strategies for searching the Web Version of SciFinder.

Research Laboratories and Organizations

National Center for Biotechnology Information

NCBI is the premier resource in the United States for molecular biology databases. The structure databases all use the Entrez text searching system. NCBI creates public databases, conducts research in computational biology, develops software tools for analyzing genome data and disseminates biomedical information. NCBI also provides training courses, online tutorials and other educational and informational resources. See the NCBI Education page to access their educational resources.

European Bioinformatics Institute Services

The European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI), a non-profit academic organization that forms part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), manages databases of biological data including nucleic acid, protein sequences and macromolecular structures. Its mission is to ensure that the growing body of information from molecular biology and genome research is placed in the public domain and is accessible freely to the scientific community. This site provides access to a large collection of databases (most free on the Web) and software packages useful for nucleic acid and protein researchers.

European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)

The mission of this non-profit organization and a basic research institute is to perform basic research in molecular biology, to train scientists, students and visitors at all levels, to offer vital services to scientists in the member states, and to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences. EMBL is part of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration, along with the DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ) and GenBank at NCBI. These three organizations exchange data on a daily basis.

DNA DataBase of Japan (DDBJ)

As the sole DNA data bank in Japan, DDBJ collects DNA sequences from researchers and issues the internationally recognized accession number to data submitters. Since DDBJ exchanges the collected data with EMBL/EBI and GenBank/NCBI on a daily basis, the three data banks share virtually the same data at any given time.

The J. Craig Venter Institute

The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) was formed by the merger of the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and several other organizations dedicated to genomic research. JCVI’s research interests include structural, functional and comparative analysis of genomes and gene products from a wide variety of organisms including viruses, eubacteria (both pathogens and non-pathogens, archaea (the so-called third domain of life), and eukaryotes (plants, animals, fungi and protists such as the malarial parasite).

Guide to Library Research in Science

In an increasingly complex information environment, it is important that individuals develop the ability to determine when and what kind of information is needed, and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively. Science Librarian Donna Jacobs has prepared a Guide to Library Research in Science, which consists of several integrated lessons, to help you with each stage of your library research. Also see the Guide to Library Research in Cell Physiology and Reading Sequence Records for more information on searching NCBI’s sequence databases.

Need Help?

Jessica Clemons
Science Librarian
330/263-2280