“Where can I find the genome browser and how does it work?”
Accessing the Browser
To access the genome browser navigate to the “Genome” tab in the top banner. By default the genome browser will open Homo sapiens hg38 and load in the ideogram of all chromosomes. Additionally, the RefSeq select track will be loaded and available to view.
Using the Browsing View
You can open the browsing view by clicking on a desired chromosome or by searching for a specific gene using the search bar at the top left. If you would like to return to the ideogram view click the “Whole genome” button at the top right.
If you would like to see a gene in view, first click on it in the browser (it will turn red) then select the “Focus gene” button in the top ribbon to bring the gene completely in frame.
Zooming in the Genome Browser
You can always zoom in and out when in the browser view by using the zoom slider in the top navigation banner. You can also simply double click anywhere to zoom in. To navigate back and forth you can use the blue window in the top ideogram preview bar, dragging it back and forth to pan across the genome.
Adding Genomes and Tracks
You can add tracks and genome via the left side panel simply use the Genome or Choose tracks dropdowns to select any track or genome from your library. If you would like to re-arrange the track order in the genome browser you can use the left side panel where you see a list of your tracks. Use the handle (the three lines next to each track) and drag them up and down to rearrange, you will see the tracks on the screen adjust accordingly.
