We are now testing a new “autocomplete” or “suggest” capability for searches from the home page. When you start entering a search term on the main page, you will be presented with a list of matching items from the database for the current class. To select one, simply scroll down and click on the item of interest. Like it? Hate it? Drop us a line at help@wormbase.org. (Note: This feature is supported for most newer browsers — unfortunately, Safari on the Macintosh is not currently supported).

WormBase is pleased to introduce a new chromosome-based assembly of C. briggsae (version CB3) on the Genome Browser. This assembly was generated by combining genetic map data with updated information on the physical map. The original assembly of C. briggsae referenced in Stein et al., 2003 (cb25.agp8) is now archived, available by selecting C. briggsae cb25.agp8 release from the Genome Browser’s “Data Source” menu. Assembly provided by LaDeana Hillier; Genome Browser view by Sheldon McKay.

WormBase and WormAtlas are pleased to introduce the Worm Community Forum (WCF). The WCF is an online forum for posting job openings and meeting announcements, discussing puzzling results, getting help with troublesome protocols, and discussing anything related to the world of worms. If you are interested in acting as a moderator for the WCF, please contact Thomas Burglin (thomas.burglin AT biosci.ki.se) or Todd Harris (harris@cshl.edu).

Citations pre-formatted for import into the Endnote citation manager application are now available for the complete C. elegans literature contained in WormBase and indexed by the Textpresso project. The current list [14 MB gzip] contains almost 24,000 citations and is updated on a weekly basis. A subset of this list specific for WormBook references — along with import instructions — is available from the WormBook project.

A large portion of the content of WormBase is now searchable by Google. To restrict a Google search to the contents of WormBase, use the format site:www.wormbase.org YOUR TERMS (for example site:www.wormbase.org exocytosis). Please note that the cached content at Google may not be as up-to-date as that at WormBase. We will be providing a mechanism to use Google to search WormBase directly in the next few days.