Comparison of Three Network Sites for Genome Information

Pick any gene you like, or simply jump to a random place in the human genome and look around for a gene about which something is known. At each of the UCSC, NCBI and Ensembl browsers, try to answer the following questions.

  • Is there evidence for alternative splicing of that gene?
  • How far distant is the closest gene on either side?
  • Are there non-coding regions not far upstream of the gene that are conserved between humans and mice (i.e, possible regulatory regions)?

    The assignment is both to answer these questions and to evaluate the three websites. Briefly, what are the strengths and weaknesses of each site?

    Submit a plain-text file with your answers to webb@bio.cse.psu.edu by midnight, September 30.