Introduction

Abstract

Life science is a knowledge-based discipline and success in the life sciences is based on access to knowledge. Scientists typically need to integrate a spectrum of information to successfully complete a task, be it the creation of a new hypothesis, identification of an unknown entity or classification of those already known. Frequently a single repository of supporting information is insufficient on its own to meet these needs. Accordingly access to knowledge structured in such a way that multiple users (machine or human) can get what they need when they need it is a fundamental concern of all scientists.