Wikipedia opens online library on human genes

telecommatt | July 12, 2008

The “Gene Wiki” project can help scientists and others learn more about the software that makes us humans run.

via Mohir

clipped from www.physorg.com

This undated illustration shows the DNA double helix. A group of US researchers laid out the foundations Monday for a new online library on human genetics stored within the existing framework of open-access encyclopedia Wikipedia.

A group of US researchers laid out the foundations Monday for a new online library on human genetics stored within the existing framework of open-access encyclopedia Wikipedia.

“There are about 25,000 genes in the humane genome. We have 9,000 articles,” said Andrew Su, one of those behind the “Gene Wiki” project from the Genomics Institute at the Novartis Research Foundation in San Diego, California.

“Our goal is to provide a uniform starting point for all genes,” he said, noting that afterwards it was up to other scientists to add information and keep it up to date, as happens now with Wikipedia entries.

“The entire community will generate content and also oversee that content.”