Development of dynamic database structures using OWL ontologies

Abstract

Standard query language database systems cannot provide the level of flexibility and functionality needed to store all of the data that a modem biologist requires. OWL ontologies provide much more information about how fields relate to each other including adding annotations with each field, but do not allow for the storage of mass amounts of data. By integrating OWL ontologies with modem database systems, scientists will be able to build ontology-based databases that combine the ease of development of ontologies with the power of the modem database. In addition, other scientists can now search ontology-based databases and know that even though the databases are different, the types of data are the same because they are based on a consistent ontology. The use of ontologies in building modem databases will create a new environment where users can customize databases to account for new methods in biology, while at the same time maintaining the ability for others to effectively search the modified databases.