esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.

The construction and analysis of networks is increasingly widespread in biological research. We have developed esyN ("easy networks") as a free and open source tool to facilitate the exchange of biological network models between researchers. esyN acts as a searchable database of user-creat...

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Main Authors: Daniel M Bean, Joshua Heimbach, Lorenzo Ficorella, Gos Micklem, Stephen G Oliver, Giorgio Favrin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106035
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author Daniel M Bean
Joshua Heimbach
Lorenzo Ficorella
Gos Micklem
Stephen G Oliver
Giorgio Favrin
author_facet Daniel M Bean
Joshua Heimbach
Lorenzo Ficorella
Gos Micklem
Stephen G Oliver
Giorgio Favrin
author_sort Daniel M Bean
collection DOAJ
description The construction and analysis of networks is increasingly widespread in biological research. We have developed esyN ("easy networks") as a free and open source tool to facilitate the exchange of biological network models between researchers. esyN acts as a searchable database of user-created networks from any field. We have developed a simple companion web tool that enables users to view and edit networks using data from publicly available databases. Both normal interaction networks (graphs) and Petri nets can be created. In addition to its basic tools, esyN contains a number of logical templates that can be used to create models more easily. The ability to use previously published models as building blocks makes esyN a powerful tool for the construction of models and network graphs. Users are able to save their own projects online and share them either publicly or with a list of collaborators. The latter can be given the ability to edit the network themselves, allowing online collaboration on network construction. esyN is designed to facilitate unrestricted exchange of this increasingly important type of biological information. Ultimately, the aim of esyN is to bring the advantages of Open Source software development to the construction of biological networks.
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spelling doaj-art-582abbe7ed5b475ab4e45378544113f42025-08-20T03:10:07ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0199e10603510.1371/journal.pone.0106035esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.Daniel M BeanJoshua HeimbachLorenzo FicorellaGos MicklemStephen G OliverGiorgio FavrinThe construction and analysis of networks is increasingly widespread in biological research. We have developed esyN ("easy networks") as a free and open source tool to facilitate the exchange of biological network models between researchers. esyN acts as a searchable database of user-created networks from any field. We have developed a simple companion web tool that enables users to view and edit networks using data from publicly available databases. Both normal interaction networks (graphs) and Petri nets can be created. In addition to its basic tools, esyN contains a number of logical templates that can be used to create models more easily. The ability to use previously published models as building blocks makes esyN a powerful tool for the construction of models and network graphs. Users are able to save their own projects online and share them either publicly or with a list of collaborators. The latter can be given the ability to edit the network themselves, allowing online collaboration on network construction. esyN is designed to facilitate unrestricted exchange of this increasingly important type of biological information. Ultimately, the aim of esyN is to bring the advantages of Open Source software development to the construction of biological networks.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106035
spellingShingle Daniel M Bean
Joshua Heimbach
Lorenzo Ficorella
Gos Micklem
Stephen G Oliver
Giorgio Favrin
esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.
PLoS ONE
title esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.
title_full esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.
title_fullStr esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.
title_full_unstemmed esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.
title_short esyN: network building, sharing and publishing.
title_sort esyn network building sharing and publishing
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106035
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AT joshuaheimbach esynnetworkbuildingsharingandpublishing
AT lorenzoficorella esynnetworkbuildingsharingandpublishing
AT gosmicklem esynnetworkbuildingsharingandpublishing
AT stephengoliver esynnetworkbuildingsharingandpublishing
AT giorgiofavrin esynnetworkbuildingsharingandpublishing