A. Siepel et al., ISYS: a decentralized, component-based approach to the integration of heterogeneous bioinformatics resources, BIOINFORMAT, 17(1), 2001, pp. 83-94
Motivation: Heterogeneity of databases and software resources continues to
hamper the integration of biological information. Top-down solutions are no
t feasible for the full-scale problem of integration across biological spec
ies and data types. Bottom-up solutions so far have not integrated, in a ma
ximally flexible way, dynamic and interactive graphical-user-interface comp
onents with data repositories and analysis tools.
Results: We present a component-based approach that relies on a generalized
platform for component integration. The platform enables independently-dev
eloped components to synchronize their behavior and exchange services, with
out direct knowledge of one another. An interface-based data model allows t
he exchange of information with minimal component interdependency. From the
se interactions an integrated system results, which we call ISYS(TM). By al
lowing services to be discovered dynamically based on selected objects, ISY
S encourages a kind of exploratory navigation that we believe to be well-su
ited for applications in genomic research.