February 1, 2013 (Vol. 33, No. 3)

URL:
http://bit.ly/W7Srpq

Rating:
Strong Points: Many organisms, customizable viewing options
Weak Points: Significant load times

Platform:
iPad

Cost:
Free

Summary:

It only seems fitting that this whimsically named genome browser app was developed by a research group at a children’s hospital (The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to be specific). This app brings the known-and-loved University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) genome browser to your iPad, allowing users to search for genes, navigate the results using the standard touchscreen maneuvers (pinch and zoom, etc.), and customize which annotation tracks are displayed on the screen. The annotations range from mapping and sequencing tracks, to genes and gene prediction tracks, to tracks displaying variation and repeats, among others. While the default genome is set to human, researchers will be pleased to know that the genomes of many other organisms are also included in the app, ranging from the more common (i.e., mouse and rat) to the exotic (i.e., panda and platypus).

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