The Ensembl Data Platform provides a genome browser that acts as a single point of access to annotated genomes from across the tree of life (Figure 1). Information such as gene sequence, transcripts and further annotation can be retrieved at the genome, gene and protein level. This includes information on protein domains, genetic variation, homology, syntenic regions and regulatory elements. Coupled with analyses such as whole genome alignments and the effects of sequence variation on proteins, this powerful tool aims to describe a gene or genomic region in detail.

Ensembl imports genome sequences from consortia, which is consistent with many other bioinformatics projects. Each species in Ensembl has its own homepage, where you can find out who provided the genome sequence and which version of the genome assembly is represented. To see an example, visit the Ensembl homepage for human.

What can I do with Ensembl?

Ensembl has many features. Some of the things you can do are:

• View genes, with other annotation, along the chromosome
• View alternative transcripts (such as splice variants) for a given gene
• Retrieve genomic, cDNA and gene sequences

• Examine single nucleotide variants (SNVs) for a gene or chromosomal region
• View SNVs in strains (rat, mouse), cultivars (wheat, rice, barley), populations (human), or breeds (dog, pig)
• View positions and sequences of mRNAs and proteins that align against Ensembl genes

• Use BLAST against multiple Ensembl genomes
• Export genomic sequences 
• Determine how your variants affect genes and transcripts using the Ensembl Variant Effect Predictor (VEP)
• Share Ensembl views with your colleagues and collaborators

NB: This quick tour will not cover all of these features – the aim is to guide you so that you can explore the Ensembl data platform yourself. For more information, please check out our help pages or get in touch with us.