National
e-Science
Centre
Introduction to the Edinburgh Mouse Atlas and
EMAGE Gene Expression Database
e-Science Institute 17th – 18th February 2005
This course had 11 participants, most of whom were biologists working on mouse
development, aiming to learn how to use the web-based resources offered by the
Edinburgh Mouse Atlas Project (EMAP), including the EMAP 3D Anatomy Atlas
and the EMAGE Gene Expression Database. We also had two participants who
are chick developmental biologists who attended to learn about the capabilities of
EMAP with a view to begin to develop a similar resource for the chick. The goals
were to give the participants a brief overview of mouse embryo development and
then to perform exercises that showed by use, all of the features of the EMAP 3D
Atlas and EMAGE Gene Expression Database. Most of these resources are
available in html- or java-based interfaces that are accessed on-line. These are
also accompanied by a UNIX based program called MAPaint, the use of which
was also covered in the course. Overall, the participants felt that the course was
very worthwhile and overall it achieved a satisfaction rate of 80%, with
participants feeling that they left with a much better concept of mouse embryo
development, as well as the confidence to use the EMAP resources in their own
lab.
Jeff Christiansen