A simple spreadsheet-based, MIAME-supportive format for microarray data: MAGE-TAB.
BACKGROUND
Sharing of microarray data within the research community has been greatly facilitated by the development of the disclosure and communication standards MIAME and MAGE-ML by the MGED Society. However, the complexity of the MAGE-ML format has made its use impractical for laboratories lacking dedicated bioinformatics support.


RESULTS
We propose a simple tab-delimited, spreadsheet-based format, MAGE-TAB, which will become a part of the MAGE microarray data standard and can be used for annotating and communicating microarray data in a MIAME compliant fashion.


CONCLUSIONS
MAGE-TAB will enable laboratories without bioinformatics experience or support to manage, exchange and submit well-annotated microarray data in a standard format using a spreadsheet. The MAGE-TAB format is self-contained, and does not require an understanding of MAGE-ML or XML.
Rayner
Tim F
TF
European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK. rayner@ebi.ac.uk
Rocca-Serra
Philippe
P
Spellman
Paul T
PT
Causton
Helen C
HC
Farne
Anna
A
Holloway
Ele
E
Irizarry
Rafael A
RA
Liu
Junmin
J
Maier
Donald S
DS
Miller
Michael
M
Petersen
Kjell
K
Quackenbush
John
J
Sherlock
Gavin
G
Stoeckert
Christian J
CJ
White
Joseph
J
Whetzel
Patricia L
PL
Wymore
Farrell
F
Parkinson
Helen
H
Sarkans
Ugis
U
Ball
Catherine A
CA
Brazma
Alvis
A
D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software