The EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database is a widely used resource in molecular biology. The spelling of EMBL, pronounced /ɛmbli/ in IPA phonetic transcription, reflects its origin as the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The spelling of nucleotide, pronounced /njuːklɪətaɪd/ in IPA, refers to the building blocks of DNA and RNA. The sequence database aspect of the name refers to the vast collection of DNA and RNA sequences available in the database. The correct spelling of this name is important for proper usage and citation in scientific literature.
The EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database is a comprehensive and globally recognized biological database that specializes in storing and organizing nucleotide sequences of DNA and RNA molecules. It serves as a fundamental resource for researchers in the field of molecular biology, genetics, genomics, and related disciplines.
The database is managed and maintained by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and it is part of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC), which also includes the DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ) and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in the United States.
The EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database provides scientists with a centralized platform to access a vast amount of nucleotide sequence information from a wide range of organisms, including microbes, plants, animals, and even human genomes. It encompasses DNA sequences, RNA sequences, and their translated protein sequences, all of which are acquired from various sources such as published literature, patents, and direct submissions from researchers.
The database employs rigorous quality control measures to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the stored sequences. It also incorporates comprehensive annotation data, where sequences are annotated with relevant information such as gene locations, protein domains, functional annotations, and other pertinent details to facilitate researchers in their investigations.
Overall, the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database is an indispensable tool for scientists worldwide as it enables them to access valuable sequence information, compare sequences, perform evolutionary analyses, identify genes, and contribute to the advancement of research in diverse fields of life sciences.