TMGC:Mutrack, A Collaborative Database for Integrated Computational and Experimental Research in the Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium

 

Erich Baker1,3,, Barbara Jackson1 Gwo-Liang Chen1, Denise Schmoyer1, Dan Goldowitz2, Gene Rinchik1, Darla Miller2,3, Jay Snoddy1,2,3, and the Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium.

 

1 Oak Ridge National Laboratory  2Univ. of Tennessee Center of Excellence in Genomics and Bioinformatics  3UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology

 

Abstract:

The Tennessee Mouse Genome Consortium (TMGC) is establishing collaborative research efforts using the mouse. One recent TMGC project involves screening for neurological phenotypes in mice after ethyl-nitrosourea (ENU)-mutagenesis. This project brings together research and academic resources from several institutions (http://www.tnmouse.org) to screen portions of chromosomes 7, 15, 10 and X, approximately 10% of the mouse genome, for mutants.  The competent integration of geographically-distributed phenotyping efforts in different biological systems requires innovative approaches towards integrative bioinformatics.  We will present here a reusable model for the integration of complex data types such as RNA expression and proteomics that meets the goals intrinsic to comparative phenotype and complex biosystem analysis.

MuTrack v1.0, an On-Line Transactional Database (OLTP), was developed using Oracle8i-backed and password-protected web interfaces generated with PHP and Perl.  MuTrack has the capacity to: (1) allow individual researchers the ability to upload information into a central database; (2) track mice and sample flow between disparate institutions; (3) analyze information for statistical anomalies related to novel mutations; (4) statistically analyze for quality control, assurance, and improvement; (5) allow users to view, search, and retrieve queried information on-line; and (6) eventually send data to appropriate mouse strain or community databases that support On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) and data mining.  MuTrack is designed to accept and curate data on the location, health status, and experimental progress of thousands of mice, tissue samples and other specimens through senescence and long-term storage, and will provide the foundation for information systems capable of building up networks of collaborating scientists.

 

 

                             

Name: Dr. Erich J Baker

Organization: UT Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology & Oak Ridge National Laboratories

Address: 1060 Commerce Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, MS 6480

City: Oak Ridge, TN  USA

Zip: 37831-6480

Telephone: (865) 576-5120

Fax: (865) 241-1965

Email: bakere@ornl.gov