The Big Picture

Putting together the picture of a cell's molecular network is not trivial. Even the seemingly simple interactions in the lowest bacterial cell comprise more “pieces” than the most complicated jigsaw puzzle anyone ever spent a Sunday putting together. It will probably be a long time before these complicated networks are fully understood, but for now, information collections like PRODORIC aid in visualizing important parts of the puzzle. PRODORICs database of transcription factors/DNA binding sites, signal transduction, protein interaction, metabolic pathways, and general regulation events take an integrated approach to cellular networks. Software tools include browsers for genomes and virtual protein gels, predicting signal peptides, codon adaptation for expressing transgenic genes, as well as extensive search options for locating desired genes/operons, proteins, transcription factor binding sites, promoters, and expression profiles.

www.prodoric.net

Pro-Darwin

Probably no topic in modern U.S. education is more polarizing and divisive than the subject of evolution in the public schools. Sadly, the words most commonly used to describe the discourse invoke war-like metaphors. It doesn't have to be this way, and educators everywhere undoubtedly welcome opportunities to tone down the rhetoric without sacrificing scientific accuracy. At Berkeley's well-written and informative Understanding Evolution pages, K-16 instructors and the curious will discover a light-handed, but informative approach to this important topic. Replete with easy-to-understand examples and excellently written descriptions, the site's content is unlikely to ruffle anyone's feathers, while being both educational and accurate. Excellent examples of evolution in action are presented in segments dealing with evolving pathogens and employing selection techniques in molecular evolution to create useful molecules.

evolution.berkeley.edu

Grain Campaign

A primary staple for more than half of the world's population, rice is the food group for which modern genetic modification probably offers its largest potential human impact. Towards this end, the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) guides an important multi-national effort with broad aims of reducing poverty, serving a rapidly expanding population base, and providing technological intervention where necessary. Established in 1960, the IRRI researches ways to increase crop yields, while reducing labor, water, and chemical inputs. With an emphasis on sustain ability and biodiversity, the IRRI hopes to improve the lives of people and their environment.

www.irri.org

Sequence Superstore

Like a Wal-Mart, the DOE's Joint Genome Institute (JGI) web site offers visitors more items on its “shelves” than any one person probably needs. JGI's eukaryotic sequences alone are impressive—entries from 14 different species in the current release, including poplar, the first tree. Add to that over 160 microbial genomes under JGI's guidance, and we're talking sequence bonanza. Access to information is cleverly designed. At the Tree of Life, visitors can click on an organism name superimposed on a tree image to quickly locate desired sequences. Alternatively, the same information can be extracted from pull-down transcription factor binding and perform standard BLAST analyses.

genome.jgi-psf.org

Sky Candy

Walkthrough a New England forest in the fall, and you'll get a botanist's view of “eye candy.” Ifyou'renota New Englander, you can view the stunning beauty of the fall colors, as well as the ongoing scientific investigation of it, at Harvard's Autumn Foliage Changes web page. Focused on the Harvard Forest near the central Massachusetts town of Petersham, research programs tackle long term ecological change, invasive plants/pests/pathogens, aquatic assessment, nitrogen metabolism, and offer historical perspectives. The site also provides descriptions of conservation and management concerns and affords visitors the opportunity to download research data from investigation that range from biogeochemical cycling to paleoecology. In addition, information specific for undergraduates, graduate students, and job seekers can be accessed.

harvard.edu/research/leaves/Autumn_leaves.html