Directed Research Project Details

Use of Ontology-Based and Mediation-Based Data Integration Methods on MGI and ZFIN Data

Abstract

ZFIN and MGI are two research groups in the field of bioinformatics that collect and distribute genetic data regarding zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mouse (Mus musculus) respectively. They provide their own web interfaces to search their data, which are stored in relational database systems. This project was aimed at developing web interfaces that are capable of searching across both databases. This is useful to biologists to discover patterns that span the two species in areas such as gene expressions and phenotypes. To support such web interfaces, it is necessary to integrate the two data sets. This was achieved using a widely used mediation technique as well as an ontology-based technique. Both resulted in functional systems. This facilitated making a comparison between the two integration techniques and identifying their relative strengths and weaknesses. In addition, this practical application of data integration techniques in bioinformatics databases made it possible to make some interesting observations. Such observations include the usefulness of a common schema and/or an ontology in this domain for data integration and the importance of the role played by middle-tier programs.