bioWidgets: data interaction components for genomics

Motivation: The presentation of genomics data in a perspicuous visual forma t is critical for its rapid interpretation and validation. Relatively few p ublic database developers have the resources to implement sophisticated fro nt-end user interfaces themselves. Accordingly, these developers would bene fit from a reusable toolkit of user interface and data visualization compon ents. Results: We have designed the bioWidget toolkit as a set of JavaBean(TM) co mponents. It includes a wide array of user interface components and defines an architecture for assembling applications. The toolkit is founded on est ablished software engineering design patterns and principles, including com ponentry Model-View-Controller, factored models and schema neutrality. As a proof of concept, we have used the bioWidget toolkit to create three exten dible applications: AnnotView, BlastView and AlignView.