Physiology Pathway diagrams: new interactive online tools that provide efficient access to genomic and phenomic information through biological pathway analysis.

Abstract

AimThe Rat Genome Database (RGD) has been developing tools and resources to aid investigators in the integration of genotype and phenotype data derived from rat research for the past 10 years. The new Physiological Pathway diagrams consist of navigational hubs that allow physiologists to easily link phenotype and genotype data through intuitive mechanistic pathway flowcharts.MethodsRGD has always contained valuable information for physiologists, however the focus has been primarily on genomic data, making it somewhat challenging for physiologists to navigate. Physiological Pathway diagrams provide a familiar map for the user, including links to relevant genotype and phenotype data through flowcharts depicting related physiological and regulatory mechanisms and pathways. Additionally, pharmacological actions and drug‐gene interactions that influence these pathways are depicted within the diagrams and also link to related phenotype and genotype data. Examples of the types of pathways included in this portal are regulatory and physiological systems such as blood pressure regulation, hematopoiesis and angiogenesis.ConclusionThe Physiological Pathway diagrams at RGD promise to be effective and user‐friendly ways to access and retrieve physiological and genomic data for researchers who use the rat as a model to study physiological processes and pharmacological modulation of these processes.