EMBOSS is a free c software analysis package developed for the needs of the
molecular biology
Molecular biology is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecule, molecular basis of biological activity in and between Cell (biology), cells, including biomolecule, biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactio ...
and
bioinformatics
Bioinformatics () is an interdisciplinary field of science that develops methods and Bioinformatics software, software tools for understanding biological data, especially when the data sets are large and complex. Bioinformatics uses biology, ...
user community.
The software automatically copes with data in a variety of formats and even allows transparent retrieval of sequence data from the web. Also, as extensive libraries are provided with the package, it is a platform to allow other scientists to develop and release software in true open source spirit. EMBOSS also integrates a range of currently available packages and tools for sequence analysis into a seamless whole.
''EMBOSS'' is an acronym for European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite. The ''European'' part of the name hints at the wider scope. The core EMBOSS groups are collaborating with many other groups to develop the new applications that the users need. This was done from the beginning with
EMBnet, the European Molecular Biology Network. EMBnet has many nodes worldwide most of which are national bioinformatics services. EMBnet has the programming expertise.
In September 1998, the first workshop was held, when 30 people from EMBnet went to
Hinxton
Hinxton is a village in South Cambridgeshire, England.
The River Cam runs through the village, as does the Cambridge to Liverpool Street station, Liverpool Street railway, though the village has no station. Hinxton parish's southern boundarie ...
to learn about EMBOSS and to discuss the way forward.
The EMBOSS package contains a variety of applications for
sequence alignment
In bioinformatics, a sequence alignment is a way of arranging the sequences of DNA, RNA, or protein to identify regions of similarity that may be a consequence of functional, structural biology, structural, or evolutionary relationships between ...
, rapid database searching with sequence patterns, protein motif identification (including domain analysis), and much more.
The AJAX and NUCLEUS libraries are released under the
GNU Library General Public Licence. EMBOSS applications are released under the
GNU General Public Licence.
EMBOSS application groups
See also
*
Open Bioinformatics Foundation
*Soaplab - A
SOAP
Soap is a salt (chemistry), salt of a fatty acid (sometimes other carboxylic acids) used for cleaning and lubricating products as well as other applications. In a domestic setting, soaps, specifically "toilet soaps", are surfactants usually u ...
web service interface including EMBOSS
*
Genostar - Integration of some of EMBOSS tools in a graphical application
References
External links
*
{{Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics software
Free science software
Science and technology in Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire District
Free bioinformatics software