WormBase is currently participating in the Gene Ontology Consortium’s Reference Genome Project, a collaborative project to comprehensively annotate gene function for twelve ‘Reference Genomes’. The Reference Genome project aims to improve the breadth and depth of annotation for participating genomes as well as provide reference annotations for newly sequenced or previously unannotated genomes. For more information, please see the GO Reference Genome Annotation Project.

WormBook is reviving the Worm Breeder’s Gazette in electronic form. The Worm Breeder’s Gazette is an informal, non-refereed publication for facilitating the exchange of information among nematode researchers. We are currently soliciting contributions (due Nov. 15) for our first issue, to be published Dec. 10, 2009. Please see the letter of invitation from Editor-in-Chief Marty Chalfie and Editor Jane Mendel, and the full Instructions For Authors for details on how to submit an article.

Reactome – a curated database of biological pathways — is conducting a user survey. Please take a few moments to send them your comments.

Paul Sternberg, principal investigator of WormBase, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Congratulations, Paul!

Are you interested in conducting a workshop at the International Worm Meeting this summer? Are there workshops that you would like to see held? Please contact Chris Li ([email protected]) or David Greenstein ([email protected]) with your ideas.