Mick Watson points out in a tweet today that there are at least two databases of biological databases.
MetaBase is a user-contributed list of all the biological databases available on the internet. Currently there are 1,802 entries, each describing a different database. The databases are described in a semi-structured way by using templates and entries can cary various user comments and annotations (see a random entry). Entries can be searched, listed or browsed by category.
The site uses the same MediaWiki technology that powers Wikipedia, probably the best known user-contributed resource on the internet. The Mediawiki system allows users to participate on many different levels, ranging from authors and editors to curators and designers.
…
Database description
MetaBase aims to be a flexible, user-driven (user-created) resource for the biological database community.
The main focus of MetaBase is summarised below:
- As a basic requirement, MB contains a list of databases, URLs and descriptions of the most commonly used biological databases currently available on the internet.
- The system should be flexible, allowing users to contribute, update and maintain the data in different ways.
- In the future we aim to generate more communication between the database developer and user communities.
A larger, more ambitious list of aims is given here.
The first point was acheived using data taken from the Molecular Biology Database Collection. Secondly, MetaBase has been implemented using MediaWiki. The final point will take longer, and is dependent on the community uptake of MB…
DBD – Database of Biological Databases
DBD: Database of Biological Database team are R.R. Siva Kiran, MVN Setty, Department of Biotechnology, MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, MSR Nagar, Bangalore, India and G. Hanumantha Rao, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003, India. DBD consists of 1200 Database entries covering wide range of databases useful for biological researchers.
Be aware that the DBD database reports its last update as 30-July-2008. I have written to confirm if that is the correct date.
Assuming it is, has anyone validated the links in the DBD database and/or compared them to the links in Metabase? That seems like a worthwhile service to the community.