P0968 The Vertebrate Trait Ontology: A Controlled Vocabulary to Facilitate Cross-species Comparison of Trait Data

Carissa Park , Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Susan M. Bello , Mouse Genome Informatics, Bar Harbor, ME
Cynthia Smith , Mouse Genome Informatics, Bar Harbor, ME
Zhiliang Hu , Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Diane Munzenmaier , Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Mary Shimoyama , Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Janan Eppig , Mouse Genome Informatics, Bar Harbor, ME
James Reecy , Iowa State University, Ames, IA
With the exponential accumulation of biological data, means to annotate data to improve retrieval and comparison are crucial. A fundamental issue in the annotation of biological data is the use of multiple terms in reference to the same concept. To this end, the Vertebrate Trait Ontology (VT) was created to provide a standardized vocabulary to facilitate comparison of trait data within and across vertebrate species. The VT is a hierarchy of terms describing vertebrate traits, defined as “measurable or observable characteristics”, pertaining to the morphology, physiology, or development of an organism or its substructures. Use of the VT has been implemented in the Animal QTLdb for the annotation of QTL and genome-wide association study data in cattle, pig, chicken, and sheep. It will be utilized in conjunction with ontologies for animal breed, clinical measurements, and livestock product traits to allow for consistent classification of data and a mechanism for the comparison of genotype and phenotype information across species. The VT is now available for public viewing and download at NCBO BioPortal (http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/1659) and can also be browsed at http://www.animalgenome.org/bioinfo/projects/ato/