The Frequency of Inherited Disorders Database
http://archive.uwcm.ac.uk/uwcm/mg/fidd/index.html
This new database from the Institute of Medical Genetics at the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, is designed to become a central repository for "information on the prevalence and/or incidence of Mendelian genetic disorders." Although the authors assert that this first release is in draft form, it includes information on over 280 conditions drawn from a broad range of published research. Users can search the database by disease, body system, or population; but, because there is no browse function, some users may have difficulty coming up with the appropriate search terms. Results include the incidence of the disorder in a study population, along with the citation for the published study. [AL]
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Wolbachia
http://www.wolbachia.sols.uq.edu.au/index.html
Wolbachia are a type of bacteria commonly affecting insects and other invertebrates that researchers are using to study a variety of "questions ranging from the evolutionary implications of infection to the use of this agent for pest and disease control." This Web site developed by researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, is an online collection of Wolbachia related research. Researchers are encouraged to register and contribute their findings to the site. Part of the site is still under construction, but this resource still provides a variety of information and bibliographic citations. [AL]
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Cyanosite: A Webserver for Cyanobacterial Research
http://www-cyanosite.bio.purdue.edu/index.html
This Web site provided by Dr. Mark Schneegurt of Wichita State University is "dedicated to information transfer within the cyanobacterial research community." The most recent version of the bibliographic database contains over 12,000 references, current through 2001. Another feature is the Toxic Cyanobacteria Home Page, which focuses on some aquatic species of cyanobacteria and the toxins that they produce. [AL]
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Institute of Arable Crops Research
http://www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/iacr/tiacrhome.html
The UK's Institute of Arable Crops Research has a commitment to "high quality scientific research relevant to plant-based agriculture with the objective of achieving improvements in rural and agricultural economies that are financially, environmentally and socially sustainable." The institute conducts a great deal of research, and summaries of many of these projects are available in the Research section of the site. The amount of detail found within this section varies, but some sections also include publication citations, abstracts, and links to laboratory home pages. The research topic entitled crop performance and improvement is particularly extensive. This site is also reviewed in the May 17, 2002 Scout Report. [AL]
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ICTVdB: The Universal Virus Database
http://life.bio2.edu/
This virus database (last mentioned in the October 1, 1999 Scout Report), developed and maintained by Dr. Cornelia Buchen-Osmond at Columbia University, has become "a major reference resource and research tool" of the virology community. The latest version of the site has moved to a new URL and is based on the Seventh Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Users can search or browse the database, and the interactive key provides help with some of the terminology. An index of images is a useful shortcut for those users only interested in the records that include photos. [AL]
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Chemical Ecology of Insects
http://www.wcrl.ars.usda.gov/cec/h.htm
This Web site by Dr. John Byers of the US Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service provides a plethora of information and resources on the chemical ecology of insects. The site's main focus is providing databases and compilations of scientific research papers that cover numerous aspects of insect ecology, many of which have been authored by Byers. The site also includes additional databases and downloadable software. Although the site has many tools for researchers, some resources have an educational focus that may make them applicable to a more general audience. [AL]
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Bt Corn and Monarch Butterflies
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/btcorn/
The US Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service provides this research question and answer page to outline its recent findings about Bt corn, which is genetically modified to include a natural soil bacteria that functions as an insecticide. The findings indicate that "there is no significant risk to monarch butterflies from environmental exposure to Bt corn." Several other questions about the research are answered in non-scientific terms, and there are several links to general information about Bt corn and monarch butterflies, as well as scientific papers including the one that this Web page summarizes. [AL]
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The Gross Physiology of the Cardiovascular System [RealPlayer]
http://cardiovascular.cx/
This site is the online text of Dr. Robert M. Anderson's book The Gross Physiology of the Cardiovascular System. Even though biomedical knowledge is continually advancing and becoming more specific, Anderson feels that it is important to "have a clear understanding of the gross mechanical function of the cardiovascular system as a whole." This resource is provided as a model to do just that. The text is well organized and easy to navigate; additionally, a video that provides a summary of the online text can be viewed online. [AL]
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