Challenges in Computational Biology Resource Maintenance
Author Information
Author(s): Veretnik Stella, Fink J. Lynn, Bourne Philip E.
Primary Institution: San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California San Diego
Hypothesis
Are computational biology resources being maintained adequately for continued use?
Conclusion
Many computational biology resources are no longer active or properly maintained, leading to frustration among scientists.
Supporting Evidence
- 14% of biology Web servers published four years ago are no longer active.
- Many published computational methods are difficult or impossible to obtain.
- Authors often do not respond to requests for their software.
Takeaway
This study shows that many online tools for biology research stop working over time, making it hard for scientists to use them.
Methodology
The authors reviewed the persistence of biology Web servers and shared their experiences in obtaining software for computational methods.
Potential Biases
The authors may have a bias due to their personal experiences and frustrations with resource availability.
Limitations
The study is based on the authors' experiences and does not provide comprehensive quantitative data on software availability.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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