Flora of the Marquesas Islands
http://rathbun.si.edu/botany/pacificislandbiodiversity/marquesasflora/index.htm
This Web site from the Smithsonian Institution's Department of Systematic Biology offers online access to taxonomic and geographical information on the vascular plants of the Marquesas Islands. An easy-to-use search tool retrieves plant checklists, which include species distribution and status information. Other features of this well-presented Web site include a searchable image gallery, curatorial information on collected specimens, a general account of the Marquesas, and some gorgeous panoramic photos. Look for additional features as the site develops. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

Profiles in Science: The Donald Fredrickson Papers
http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/FF/
The National Library of Medicine has recently digitized and made available the work of Donald Fredrickson (1924-2002), a notable physiologist and biomedical researcher. Visitors are encouraged to begin with the online Exhibit, which includes biographical information and short essays about Dr. Fredrickson's work, as well as a selection of digitized documents and visuals organized by subject. Visitors may locate additional materials compiled in alphabetical or chronological listings, or by using the search engine. New items will become available to the public as the Donald Fredrickson Papers continue to be digitized. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

10th Report on Carcinogens [.pdf]
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/roc/toc10.html
The US Department of Health and Human Services has recently made available its 10th Report on Carcinogens (RoC), as prepared by the National Toxicology Program located at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Users may view the entire report on this Web site provided by Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal published by NIEHS. The RoC is an authoritative study that identifies and examines substances that pose a potential carcinogenic hazard to human health. For each listed substance, the report offers data on carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, biological mechanism, potential for human exposure, and existing Federal regulations to limit exposures. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

The National Academies Institute of Medicine Annual Meeting 2002 [.pdf, RealPlayer]
http://www.iom.edu/IOM/IOMHome.nsf/Pages/2002+Annual+Meeting+Agenda+Genomics
This Web site contains the proceedings of the National Academies Institute of Medicine Annual Meeting 2002. Presentations from the first day of the conference, focused on "Genomics and the Future of Health in Society," may be of most interest to researchers in this field. Users may listen to the speeches, and a few of the presentations include viewable slides. Topics covered include the Human Genome Project, cardiovascular disease and post-genomic medicine, the Innocence Project, and more. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

The UK Biobank: A Study of Genes, Environment, and Health
http://www.biobank.ac.uk/
The UK Biobank project, slated to begin in 2004, will collect epidemiological data for use by biomedical researchers investigating the contribution of genes and environment to human health and disease. With up to half a million participants between ages 45 and 69, this long-term study will be the largest of its kind in medical history. Visitors to the UK Biobank Web site may read over the project's research agenda, which aims to improve the diagnostic tools, prevention strategies, and treatments for diseases and disorders that occur later in life. The UK Biobank project is a collaborative project of England's Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust, and Department of Health. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online
http://www.epa.gov/echo/index.html
The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently launched Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO). ECHO retrieves environmental records for approximately 800,000 regulated facilities nationwide. These data are freely accessible under the Freedom of Information Act, but have not been available online until recently. Searching by location yields a list of facilities and businesses in the area, with summary data indicating 1) whether the EPA or state/ local governments have conducted inspections; 2) whether violations were detected; and 3) whether enforcement took place and penalties were assessed. ECHO should prove a useful resource for research in the environmental sciences. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

Directory of Research Systematics Collections
http://159.189.176.70/index.html
The Directory of Research Systematics Collections (DRSC) offers online access to information about the natural history research collections of museums and institutions across the US. The DRSC -- a joint project of the Natural Science Collections Alliance and the US Geological Survey Biological Resources Division -- offers a convenient, one-stop resource for locating research specimens. The DRSC's simple interface allows searches by parent institution name or by taxonomic and geographic criteria combined. Extensive scrollable lists are provided for each search method. [RS]
[Back to Contents]

Two on the Honey Bee Genome
AgNews: Honey Bee Genome Being Sequenced
http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/ENTO/Jan0303b.htm
Human Genome Sequencing Center: Baylor College of Medicine
http://www.hgsc.bcm.tmc.edu/
The first Web site contains a news release from Texas A&M University Agriculture Program, which describes a project recently launched at the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center to sequence the honey bee genome. The honey bee, one of five animals chosen by the National Institutes of Health for genetic sequencing, will be the first agricultural animal to have its genome sequenced. The second Web site is the home page of the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center. While information about the honey bee project has yet to go online, this will be the site to watch as the project progresses. [RS]
[Back to Contents]