The main function of problem-oriented digital libraries is the provision of support to the users in multiple phases of their work, including information discovery, interpretation and management, as well as sharing results with coworkers. Therefore the structure of these databases should meet several requirements, namely, the availability of mechanisms for provision of automatic collection, manipulation and management of data sets; advanced search capabilities; collaboration support services and flexible automation of flow of particular processes. With these general principles in mind we are developing two databases. One of them is a database of analytical models in physics. The development of this database proceeds in steps. At present we collect a large amount of information and develop a model for presentation of data. The other database GeNet is a prototype of genetic network database. GeNet satisfies virtually all of the criteria to genetic network databases (Samsonova et al., in press) for a selected set of critical networks controlling development and the response of eukaryotic cells to stress. GeNet is available on-line at http://www.csa.ru/Inst/gorb_dep/inbios/genet/genet.htm and its mirror site http://www.mssm.edu/molbio/genet/genet.htm.

GeNet can be used to obtain an information about the functions of genetic networks and the digital images of gene expression patterns.

References:

M. G. Samsonova, K.G.Savostyanova, V. N.Serov, A. V.Spirov, I.V.Tretyakova. GeNet, the prototype of genetic network database. Bioinformatics, in press