Biomedical ontologies: a functional perspective

D. L. Rubin, N. H. Shah, N. F. Noy. Briefings in BioinformaticsJanuary 2008. 9(1):75-90.

The objective of this review is to give an overview of biomedical ontology in practical terms by providing a functional perspective—describing how bio-ontologies can and are being used. As biomedical scientists begin to recognize the many different ways ontologies enable biomedical research, they will drive the emergence of new computer applications that will help them exploit the wealth of research data now at their fingertips.