A visual spreadsheet using HTML5 for whole genome display

There is a need for tools for the visualization of the data collected about a whole genome such as genes, proteins, Gene Ontology annotations, and expression data. We have developed CGene and CGenome, pronounced See-Gene and See-Genome respectively as HTML5 web-based spreadsheets that can incorporate visual displays, as well as text, within the spreadsheet cells. We use Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) to present gene models, protein domain architectures, gene location, and GO Slim profiles in the spreadsheets. These are generated from standard GFF3 files, standard output files from InterProScan, AspGD Gene Ontology Annotations File, and Chromosomal Feature File. Our research group studies fungal genomes, so CGene and CGenome are tested by displaying each of the Aspergilli genomes in the AspGD database (www.aspgd.org).