Using the Bioscape Web Application
The Bioscape Web application seeks to provide a convenient interface to textual documents which have been searched for bioentity (gene and/or protein) information, as well as providing an overview of each bioentity known to the system.
Searching
The start page for Bioscape provides a minimal search dialogue where names or identifiers of bioentities can be specified, together with the kind of bioentity being searched for, and along with any organism-related restrictions.
Searching for Genes by Name
An example:
- Enter LHbeta into the text box.
- Select name from the input type menu.
- Select either human or all organisms from the organism menu, according to preference.
- Press the Go! button.
Bioscape will not only attempt to match the given name against the names recorded for genes in typical gene databases, but it will also attempt to suggest genes that are thought to employ the given name in the searched literature. Consequently, for the above example, genes known by the names LH2 and LHB will be suggested. (This depends on a technique known as orthographic variation.)
