[comp.edu] Taxonomic Reference File - BBS

patth@dasys1.UUCP (Patt Haring) (09/24/87)

The TRF (Taxonomic Reference File) BBS 
is provided free by BIOSIS, located in Philadelphia.  The system
seeks to attract members of the biology/life sciences field to
participate in the sharing of ideas and information.  Students, non-
biologists, and other non-scientists are also welcome.  The TRF uses
RBBS and has conferencing, file uploading and downloading (around 3Mb
and growing), and other features.  Current conference topics include
the Human Genome Initiative (the current push to sequence the entire
human genetic material within ten years. The plan is highly
controversial.), a debate on the US Patent Office decision to allow
genetically altered organisms to be patented, and the use of the BERDY
antibiotic database.  There is also a conference for other SysOps and
one for callers to leave feedback and ask questions about BIOSIS'
products.
     In addition, we have several databases of interest to
microbiologists, particularly bacterial taxonomists.  While the board
is open to the entire public, use of the databases is available only to
qualified users.  The databases are free to those users with access. 
The size of the database is currently around 40Mb.
 
     The bulletin board operates from 12:00 (NOON) to 8:00AM Mon. thru
Fri. and 24 hours on weekends.  At the present only 300 and 1200 baud
are supported.
Hardware: NEC Powermate2 (AT compatible)
The phone number is:  1-215-972-6759

     A little background about what BIOSIS is might be helpful.  BIOSIS
(or BioSciences Information Services) is a not-for-profit organization
serving the information needs of the world's life science community. 
BIOSIS is the producer of BIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS (R) and its online
counterpart BIOSIS PREVIEWS (R).  The entire BIOSIS database (not
available through the TRF) is the worlds largest archive of citation
and abstracts for biology and the life sciences.
 
If you have any questions please contact us.
 
 
                        Robert Howey
                        BIOSIS
                        Special Projects Section
                        2100 Arch St.
                        Phila., PA
                        DIALCOM: 42:CDT0018
                        CIS: 76077,2454


-- 
Patt Haring                       UUCP:    ..cmcl2!phri!dasys1!patth
Big Electric Cat                  Compu$erve: 76566,2510
New York, NY, USA                 MCI Mail: 306-1255;  GEnie: PHaring
(212) 879-9031                    FidoNet Mail: 1:107/132 or 107/222