About GeneLynx

For every gene, any scientist should be able to access a single webpage which provides a set of links to the publically available information pertainant to that gene. Furthermore, the page should be easily obtained given any gene-specific identifier (accession numbers, HUGO names, text, or sequence). While GeneLynx will never obtain this ideal, we hope that it moves ever closer through a combination of our curatorial efforts and the input of a broad slice of the scientific community. Please read the data access policy to make sure you understand the restrictions and obligations we have placed upon our users. We are not attempting to replace any database, and we hope to work in harmonious cooperation with other systems. If you feel your database should be Lynxed to our gene pages, just drop us a note and we will address your database ASAP.

GeneLynx Acknowledgements

GeneLynx would not have evolved to its current state without the input of a large number of individuals. In particular, GeneLynx has been produced by the combined efforts of Wyeth W. Wasserman and Boris Lenhard. Refinement of the ideas and versions of related systems were undertaken with William S. Hayes and Per Kraulis. The ideas around an organized catalog of human genes were shaped by discussions with numerous scientists, particularly James W. Fickett and Pankaj Agarwal.

Data Access Policy

The restrictions on access to the GeneLynx webpages and the underlying data can be summarized succinctly. First, any and all users can use the online system for their research purposes provided they do not attempt to download a significant portion of the database (i.e. NO "WEB GET" PROCEDURES PLEASE). In order to impede the unauthorized downloading of the database, a restriction has been placed on the number of gene pages any user can download within a certain time period. Second, any researchers from academic or non-profit organizations may have unrestricted access to the underlying data provided that they (1) do not use it for any commercial purposes (for profit research or inclusion in a commercial product), (2) do not redistribute substantial portions of of the database, and (3) do acknowledge GeneLynx as the source of the data. In order to gain access to the most recent datafile, send a request for access (Wyeth.Wasserman@cgr.ki.se). Use of the GeneLynx data in for-profit activities requires a license, which is obtained either by payment of a modest set-price annual fee (used to pay for database curation), or by sponsorship of the online GeneLynx system. The entire GeneLynx system can be acquired for intranet use by special arrangements. Information on licenses and sponsorship can be obtained by request (Wyeth.Wasserman).

AN EXTRA USER OBLIGATION

We would hope that all users feel it is their responsibility to bring to our attention errors, omissions, and suggestions that would result in a more accurate and complete system. To this end we have built a user-comments system which allows users to post items pertainent to any specific gene (comments, links, etc.). However, this is a curated system and all comments must be approved by our staff prior to appearing on the web. We apologize for this delay, but we detest spam.

PRIVACY STATEMENT

All use of GeneLynx is logged. While we have no intention of abusing the information provided by users, we reserve the right to use the information stored in our datafiles in any manner we choose. This could include compiling statistics on the numbers and types of users, identification of our heaviest users, identification of abuses of the system, compilation of the list of most popular genes etc.

SPONSORS

The initial research was made possible by funding from the Gentaur Corporation. We welcome additional sponsors, whom we will acknowledge generously on the system.