Developing a database for GenBank information

The thesis project, Gene Database, was done to create a way for the bioinformatics research group at the University of Louisville to have access to GenBank EST information in the form of a database. This database allows for a programmable front end to be used to conduct further research with the use of EST information. The database backend used is Oracle and was populated through a custom Java program. The loader was created in lieu of using Oracle's SQL*Loader because of the limitations in SQL*Loader.; Previous ways of accessing the GenBank information included downloading the compressed files and using them locally as raw file formats or using the NCBI Website remotely. This Gene Database allows for a central location for bio-information of the GenBank to be kept at the University of Louisville.; The database was initially populated with the human EST information. The database is versatile enough to allow for other organisms to be stored in the database as well. It also allows for custom queries for specific research goals that are spawned by having this information readily available for researchers.