title: Exploring spatial patterns of gene expression from fruit fly embryogenesis on the iPhone.
abstract: Mobile technologies provide unique opportunities for ubiquitous distribution of scientific information through user-friendly interfaces. Therefore, we have developed a new FlyExpress mobile application that makes available a growing collection (>100 000) of standardized in situ hybridization images containing spatial patterns of gene expression from Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) embryogenesis. Using this application, scientists can visualize and compare expression patterns of >4000 developmentally relevant genes. The FlyExpress app displays the expression patterns of the selected gene for different visual projections (e.g. lateral) and displays them according to their developmental stages, which shows a gene's progression of spatial expression over developmental time. Ultimately, we envision the use of FlyExpress app in the laboratory where scientists may wish to immediately conduct a visual comparison of a known expression pattern with the one observed on the bench top or to display expression patterns of interest during scientific discussions at large.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Search "FlyExpress" on the Apple iTunes store.
authors.affiliation: Center for Evolutionary Medicine and Informatics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ 85287-5301, USA. s.kumar@asu.edu
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boccia
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCutchan
authors.forename: Jieping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D040421:Cell Phone; D003626:Data Display; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics*; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D014584:User-Computer Interface