April 1, 2011 (Vol. 31, No. 7)
URL:
http://www.genepaint.org/Frameset.html
Rating:
Strong Points: Includes many developmental stages
Weak Points: Search field has glitches
Summary:
Why “paint the town red” when you can paint the mouse embryo with any gene you’d like? Genepaint.org is a nice gene-expression resource for the mouse because it includes data from various developmental stages. The emphasis is on the E14.5 embryo, but E10.5, E15.5, P7, and adult sections are also included. The “Search Genepaint” option in the left-hand sidebar is the best way to explore the site, although be sure to hit the “go” button—simply inputting text into the search field and hitting “enter” takes you to a blank page. In order for you to appreciate the genetic artwork at a brush-stroke level of detail, the site includes a virtual microscope tool that allows users to zoom into the images down to cellular resolution.