[bionet.molbio.genbank] release other than n-1

davison@UHNIX2.UH.EDU (Dan Davison) (12/16/89)

> Does anyone out there think that they are likely to want to request a
> release older than the most current or the n-1 release?  

<hand waving wildly>

Yes, I do have a use for "older" versions of GB.  As the db grows,
some entries are merged with other entries, names change, and
sequences change.  My codon analysis code uses a historical scheme to
track data changes and such.  Yes, I should probably write it to use
accession numbers instead of names, but locus names me something to me
(especially now that I've just about gotten the locus naming schemes
figured out). 

If I wanted to redo an analysis from two years ago, I could not do it
with the latest GB.  Instead now I have created my own E. coli files
from each release of GB and roll that off onto tape.  That's OK for
E. coli, but if I want to try primates or all mammals, that's a much
bigger task.

Just thought I'd mention it.

dan
-- 
dr. dan davison/dept. of biochemical and biophysical sciences/univ. of
Houston/4800 Calhoun/Houston,TX 77054-5500/davison@uh.edu/DAVISON@UHOU

"Mars is essentially in the same orbit...somewhat the same distance
from the sun, which is very important.  We have seen pictures where
there are canals, we believe, and water.  If there is water, that
means there is oxygen.  If oxygen, that means we can breathe" -- Vice
President Dan Quayle, Head of the National Space Council, when
questioned on CNN about why America should send a mission to Mars.
[Houston Post, Sun. Nov. 19, pg. C-1].

Disclaimer: As always, I speak only for myself, and, usually, only to
myself.