Gene sequencing is all about data—3.2 gigabytes for a single human genome, with several times that for making raw sequences relevant to real-world problems. Mining the genome for medical intelligence multiplies the data “crunch” for gene sequencers and value-added services that annotate gene sequences for their relevance to protein and metabolite concentrations, and to both diseased and healthy states.

Collaborative research is one of the justifications cited most often for acquiring lab data software. While such “soft” benefits are difficult to quantify, the “hard” benefits are easy to measure, after some digging.

Laboratories are awash in data. The two main data management packages in use today are laboratory information management systems (LIMS) for structured data such as pH values or sample weights and electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) for unstructured data such as images and chemical formulas.

Provides a complete laboratory data management capability that combines features that would be expected in either a LIMS or an ELN.

LABVANTAGE 6 Includes enhancements to batch management and new event-driven flexibility.

Accelrys has a range of Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELN) to meet the full spectrum of needs of scientific organizations from research to development to manufacturing.

A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) serves as the interface to a laboratory’s data, instruments, analyses and reports.

As a component of a lab’s information infrastructure, ELNs help laboratories capture and manage knowledge, streamline data management, protect intellectual property (IP), and, as a central repository, foster collaboration between and among groups and locations.

Contributing editor Tanuja Koppal, Ph.D., talks to two scientists—one from a large pharmaceutical company and the other from a large academic institution—about their experiences with transitioning from paper to electronic lab notebooks (ELNS).