Reflect: Augmented Browsing for the Life Scientist

Abstract

Anyone who regularly reads life science literature often comes across names of genes, proteins, or small molecules that they would like to know more about. To make this process easier, we have developed a new, free service called Reflect ("http://reflect.ws":http://reflect.ws) that can be installed as a plug-in to Firefox or Internet Explorer. Reflect tags gene, protein, and small molecule names in any web page, typically within a few seconds, and without affecting document layout. Clicking on a tagged gene or protein name opens a popup showing a concise summary that includes synonyms, database identifiers, sequence, domains, 3D structure, interaction partners, subcellular location, and related literature. Clicking on a tagged small molecule name opens a popup showing 2D structure and interaction partners. The popups also allow navigation to commonly used databases. In the future we plan to add further entity types to Reflect, including outside the life sciences.