Figure 7. Accessing ENCODE data at the UCSC Portal.

Data and results for the ENCODE Project are accessible at the UCSC portal (http://genome.ucsc.edu/ENCODE). “Signal tracks” for the different datasets are selected and displayed in the genome browser to generate images such as those shown in Figures 3–4. The datasets are available from the Track Settings page; an example is shown that illustrates some of the key controls. A dataset is selected and the Signal display plots the values of an assay for a given feature more or less continuously along a chromosome. The height, range for the y-axis, windowing function, and many other aspects of the graph are controlled in the Signal Configuration window, accessed by clicking on “Signal” (red oval #1). ENCODE data are commonly generated on multiple cell lines; information about each can be accessed by clicking on the name of the cell line or antibody (e.g., HepG2, red oval #2). Many ENCODE tracks are actually composites of multiple subtracks; these can be turned on and off by using the boxes in the central matrix or in the subtrack list below. Subtracks can be reordered individually by using drag and drop in the browser image or the Track Settings page, or in logical groups by using the “Cell/Antibody/Views” (red oval #4) ordering controls. Additional information about the feature and the assay, such as the antibody used, can be obtained by clicking on the name of the feature. Some restrictions to the use of ENCODE data apply for a 9-month period after deposit of the data; the end of that 9-month period is given by the “Restricted Until” date. Full data can be downloaded by clicking on the “Downloads” link (red oval #7).