Unigene

Unigene is a database that provides a unique set of gene sequences from several different species. It is a product of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and is part of the larger GenBank database. Unigene is designed to facilitate the study of gene expression, gene function, and genomic mapping.

Overview

The Unigene database is a collection of transcript sequences that are grouped based on their source organism and gene. Each group, or cluster, represents a unique gene. The database includes sequences from a variety of sources, including cDNA libraries, genomic DNA, and RNA.

Unigene uses an algorithm to cluster similar sequences together, creating a unique set of gene sequences for each species. This allows researchers to easily compare gene expression across different species and study the function of specific genes.

Applications

Unigene is used in a variety of genomics and bioinformatics applications. It is often used in gene expression studies to identify genes that are expressed in specific tissues or under certain conditions. It can also be used to study the function of specific genes and to map genes to specific locations on the chromosome.

In addition, Unigene is used in the development of microarray technology. Microarrays are tools that allow researchers to study the expression of thousands of genes at once. By using Unigene to identify unique gene sequences, researchers can design microarrays that accurately measure gene expression.

See also

• National Center for Biotechnology Information
• GenBank
• Gene expression
• Microarray