December 1, 2013 (Vol. 33, No. 21)
URL:
http://ctdbase.org
Rating:
Strong Points: Expansive database, many ways to search
Weak Points: Cluttered site design
Summary:
The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (phew—say that ten times fast) exists to “illuminate how chemicals affect human health.” It does so by collecting information from the scientific literature that describes links between chemicals, genes and proteins, and human diseases. One may be surprised to find that this database includes all types of chemicals, not just those that are typically perceived as “toxic.” (For instance, one will find naturally occurring chemicals like glucose and fructose in this database.) Users can browse the database by chemicals, diseases, or genes; alternatively, one can search for cross-species chemical-gene interactions, browse genetic pathways, or browse genes by organism. The website design is a bit busy, so it may be difficult to get one’s bearings; however, the site provides a number of example queries to help orient visitors.
