New MGI Batch Query Tool

JAX® NOTES Issue 507, Fall 2007

The Mouse Genome Informatics site (MGI) now offers a Batch Query tool for accessing information about many genes and markers all at once (Fig. 1). The tool allows you to perform the following functions:

  • search MGI with a list of gene symbols or IDs, such as MGI accession, Ensembl, GenBank, or RefSeq IDs;
  • copy and paste (or upload a file containing) a column of data into the tool;
  • specify the search output, such as nomenclature, genome l location, gene ontology, or mammalian phenotype data, Ensembl, Entrez, GenBank, RefSeq, UniProt, RefSNP, or MGI Allele IDs;
  • view search results in either web or tab-delimited format; and
  • transfer tab-delimited output to a spreadsheet for further manipulation.

The MGI Batch Query tool is particularly useful as an ID-exchanger and a method for reciprocal gene symbol and ID searches. For examples, knowing RefSeq IDs, one can obtain the corresponding MGI or Ensembl IDs (and vice versa), or, knowing a UniProt protein ID, one can discover the gene symbol. The availability of genome location information, Gene Ontology annotations, and Mammalian Phenotype annotations adds biological value to the IDs and gene symbols.

The Batch Query link on most MGI Web pages leads to this Web page.

Please send questions and comments to User Support, mgi-help@informatics.jax.org.

Figure 1. Section of computer screen showing the link to the new Batch Query Tool on the home page of the Mouse Genome Informatics Database.