Physiome Sciences of Princeton, NJ, and the University of Auckland have launched a website that provides a tool to standardize the creation of computer-based models of cells, organs, and tissues. The website, http://www.CellML.org, allows scientists to create and customize computer models that integrate data from a variety of sources, including genomic, proteomic, cell and organ studies, and public and private databases, the company said. The site uses CellML Language, an XML-based language designed to represent and exchange computer-based biological models and their components. CellML allows scientists to share models even if they use different model-building software. The language should help scientists more effectively manage and interpret gene and protein data and apply it to study diseases, identify potential drug targets, and test new drugs in silico, said Physiome.
NetGenics of Cleveland has launched its Gene Expression DataMart software, a data repository that cleans, normalizes, and integrates gene expression data from a variety of sources including oligonucleotide arrays, spotted arrays, RT-PCR, Taq-Man, and others. Using a multi-dimensional data model, the product speeds queries of multiple, disparate databases, returning results in seconds as opposed to hours or days compared to other methods, said Richard Resnick, the company’s director of database development.