Harvard Soon to Release Database that Links Genes and Biological Terms

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12 (GenomeWeb News) - A new database that lists genes associated with biological terms will soon be released by Harvard University, GenomeWeb News has learned.

According to Joshua LaBaer, director of the Harvard Institute of Proteomics, the database, called BioGene, is an addendum to MedGene, a database developed by members of LaBaer's laboratory that lists in rank order genes associated with any disease. The information is based on literature search analysis. MedGene can currently be accessed here.

While MedGene worked with 4,000 human diseases and 53,000 human genes, BioGene will be expanded in scope, working with over 500,000 biological terms, such as "cell cycle" or "nuclear membrane" said LaBaer.

He spoke with GenomeWeb News following his keynote presentation at this week's PEPTALK conference here this week. He said it is unclear exactly when the BioGene database will be released, but that it is "coming soon."