The Mouse Genome Database (MGD): expanding genetic and genomic resources for the laboratory mouse

The Mouse Genome Database (MGD) is a comprehensive public database of mouse genomic, genetic and phenotypic information (http://www.informatics.jax.or g), This community database provides information about genes, serves as a m apping resource of the mouse genome, details mammalian orthologs, integrate s experimental data, represents standardized mouse nomenclature for genes a nd alleles, incorporates links to other genomic resources such as sequence data, and includes a variety of additional information about the laboratory mouse. MGD scientists and annotators work cooperatively with the research community to provide an integrated, consensus view of the mouse genome whil e also providing experimental data including data conflicting with the cons ensus representation. Recent improvements focus on the representation of ph enotypic information and the enhancement of gene and allele descriptions.