Bio::DB::Taxonomy(3)

NAME
Bio::DB::Taxonomy - Access to a taxonomy database

SYNOPSIS
  use Bio::DB::Taxonomy;
  my $db = Bio::DB::Taxonomy->new(-source => 'entrez');
  # use NCBI Entrez over HTTP
  my $taxonid = $db->get_taxonid('Homo sapiens');

  # get a taxon
  my $taxon = $db->get_taxon(-taxonid => $taxonid);

DESCRIPTION
This is a front end module for access to a taxonomy database.

FEEDBACK

  Mailing Lists
User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to the Bioperl mailing list. Your participation is much appreciated.

  bioperl-l@bioperl.org                  - General discussion
  http://bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists  - About the mailing lists

  Support
Please direct usage questions or support issues to the mailing list:

bioperl-l@bioperl.org

rather than to the module maintainer directly. Many experienced and reponsive experts will be able look at the problem and quickly address it. Please include a thorough description of the problem with code and data examples if at all possible.

  Reporting Bugs
Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track of the bugs and their resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web:

  http://bugzilla.open-bio.org/

AUTHOR - Jason Stajich
Email jason-at-bioperl.org

CONTRIBUTORS
Sendu Bala: bix@sendu.me.uk

APPENDIX
The rest of the documentation details each of the object methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a _

  new
 Title   : new
 Usage   : my $obj = Bio::DB::Taxonomy->new(-source => 'entrez');
 Function: Builds a new Bio::DB::Taxonomy object.
 Returns : an instance of Bio::DB::Taxonomy
 Args    : -source => which database source 'entrez' or 'flatfile' or 'list'

  get_taxon
 Title   : get_taxon
 Usage   : my $taxon = $db->get_taxon(-taxonid => $taxonid)
 Function: Get a Bio::Taxon object from the database.
 Returns : Bio::Taxon object
 Args    : just a single value which is the database id, OR named args:
           -taxonid => taxonomy id (to query by taxonid)
            OR
           -name    => string (to query by a taxonomy name: common name,
                               scientific name, etc)

  get_taxonids
 Title   : get_taxonids
 Usage   : my @taxonids = $db->get_taxonids('Homo sapiens');
 Function: Searches for a taxonid (typically ncbi_taxon_id) based on a query
           string. Note that multiple taxonids can match to the same supplied
           name.
 Returns : array of integer ids in list context, one of these in scalar context
 Args    : string representing taxon's name

  get_tree
 Title   : get_tree
 Usage   : my $tree = $db->get_tree(@species_names)
 Function: Generate a tree comprised of the full lineages of all the supplied
           species names. The nodes for the requested species are given
           name('supplied') values corresponding to the supplied name, such that
           they can be identified if the real species name in the database
           (stored under node_name()) is different.
 Returns : Bio::Tree::Tree
 Args    : a list of species names (strings)

  ancestor
 Title   : ancestor
 Usage   : my $ancestor_taxon = $db->ancestor($taxon)
 Function: Retrieve the full ancestor taxon of a supplied Taxon from the
           database.
 Returns : Bio::Taxon
 Args    : Bio::Taxon (that was retrieved from this database)

  each_Descendent
 Title   : each_Descendent
 Usage   : my @taxa = $db->each_Descendent($taxon);
 Function: Get all the descendents of the supplied Taxon (but not their
           descendents, ie. not a recursive fetchall).
 Returns : Array of Bio::Taxon objects
 Args    : Bio::Taxon (that was retrieved from this database)

  get_all_Descendents
 Title   : get_all_Descendents
 Usage   : my @taxa = $db->get_all_Descendents($taxon);
 Function: Like each_Descendent(), but do a recursive fetchall
 Returns : Array of Bio::Taxon objects
 Args    : Bio::Taxon (that was retrieved from this database)

  _load_tax_module
 Title   : _load_tax_module
 Usage   : *INTERNAL Bio::DB::Taxonomy stuff*
 Function: Loads up (like use) a module at run time on demand

  _handle_internal_id
 Title   : _handle_internal_id
 Usage   : *INTERNAL Bio::DB::Taxonomy stuff*
 Function: Tries to ensure that when a taxon is requested from any database,
           the Taxon object returned will have the same internal id regardless
           of database.
 Args    : Bio::Taxon, and optionally true value to try and do the job using
           scientific name & rank if your ids aren't comparable to other dbs.