The maize genetics and genomics database. The community resource for access to diverse maize data

Abstract

The Maize Genetics and Genomics Database (MaizeGDB) serves the maize (Zea mays) research community by making a wealth of genetics and genomics data available through an intuitive Web-based interface. The goals of the MaizeGDB project are 3-fold: to provide a central repository for public maize information; to present the data through the MaizeGDB Web site in a way that recapitulates biological relationships; and to provide an array of computational tools that address biological questions in an easy-to-use manner at the site. In addition to these primary tasks, MaizeGDB team members also serve the community of maize geneticists by lending technical support for community activities, including the annual Maize Genetics Conference and various workshops, teaching researchers to use both the MaizeGDB Web site and Community Curation Tools, and engaging in collaboration with individual research groups to make their unique data types available through MaizeGDB.

Figure 1.

The name of a probe can be used at MaizeGDB to locate SNP data available at CerealsDB. The researcher first searches “all records” from the top of any MaizeGDB page (A; step 1, circled in red) using “p-csu571” as her query; she locates the probe record. From the probe page (A), the researcher follows a link (step 2, circled in red) to view the MaizeGDB sequence display page. From the sequence display page (B), she follows a link to CerealsDB (step 3, circled in red) to check for SNP contigs that include the sequence. Data describing a putative SNP contig (C) are presented directly via the CerealsDB site (http://www.cerealsdb.uk.net/maize_snips/snip_1563.htm). The sequence of interest (EST AA051884) is listed at the bottom of the group of sequences shown.

Figure 2.

Researchers can add annotation to records at MaizeGDB. After having logged in to the site, the researcher's username appears in the upper right corner of the window, and links appear on pages allowing the researcher to add annotations (top red circle). Once an annotation has been added, it appears toward the bottom of the page (bottom red circle) along with the contributor's name and the date the annotation was submitted.