Agent skill · research science · aiskillstore
gene-database
Query NCBI Gene via E-utilities/Datasets API. Search by symbol/ID, retrieve gene info (RefSeqs, GO, locations, phenotypes), batch lookups, for gene annotation and functional analysis.
Why this skill is useful
Adds specific scripts for querying gene data via NCBI APIs that the AI wouldn't reliably generate on its own.
What it needs
Requires ncbi account access. About 4k tokens when loaded. Last updated 2026-08-07. 405 stars on the source repository.
What this skill does
Gene Database Overview NCBI Gene is a comprehensive database integrating gene information from diverse species. It provides nomenclature, reference sequences (RefSeqs), chromosomal maps, biological pathways, genetic variations, phenotypes, and cross-references to global genomic resources. When to Use This Skill This skill should be used when working with gene data including searching by gene symbol or ID, retrieving gene sequences and metadata, analyzing gene functions and pathways, or performing batch gene lookups. Quick Start NCBI provides two main APIs for gene data access: 1. E-utilities (Traditional): Full-featured API for all Entrez databases with flexible querying 2. NCBI Datasets API (Newer): Optimized for gene data retrieval with simplified workflows Choose E-utilities for complex queries and cross-database searches. Choose Datasets API for straightforward gene data retrieval with metadata and sequences in a single request. Common Workflows Search Genes by Symbol or Name To search for genes by symbol or name across organisms: 1. Use the scripts/querygene.py script with E-utilities ESearch 2. Specify the gene symbol and organism (e.g., "BRCA1 in human") 3. The script returns matching Gene IDs Example query patterns: Gene symbol: insulin[gene name] AND human[organism] Gene with disease: dystrophin[gene name] AND muscular dystrophy[disease] Chromosome location: human[organism] AND 17q21[chromosome] Retrieve Gene Information by ID To fetch detailed information for known Gene IDs: 1. Use scripts/fetchgenedata.py with the Datasets API for comprehensive data 2. Alternatively, use scripts/querygene.py with E-utilities EFetch for specific formats 3. Specify desired output format (JSON, XML, or text) The Datasets API returns: Gene nomenclature and aliases Reference sequences (RefSeqs) for transcripts and proteins Chromosomal location and mapping Gene Ontology (GO) annotations Associated publications Batch Gene Lookups For multiple genes simultaneously: 1. …
How to use it
Reference it in AdaL, Claude Code, Cursor or any coding agent — nothing to install:
@skills aiskillstore/gene-database--11b85e