Gene expression and development databases for C-elegans

The nematode worm C. elegans, with its transparent body, is an excellent vehicle for studying developmental gene expression during embryogenesis and throughout its short life. Expression data from in-situ hybridization, immunolocalization and reporter constructs have been put into the ACeDB database, which is used to store and disseminate most types of C. elegans data, and is also widely used for genome-sequencing projects. In the database, the gene-expression patterns are linked to genes, sequences, cells, organs and the developmental stage in which expression occurs. An accessory program 'Angler' can be used to browse sectional Nomarski images of the worm embryo during early development, and to relate these images to overlaid cell lineage data and 3-D schematic views of cell positions. (C) 1997 Academic Press Ltd.