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Biosciences: Databases

Cells as seen under a microscope

Databases provide access to high-quality peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, book chapters, dissertations and many other resources. 

These databases have been especially selected for this subject area. When carrying out your research for a piece of work, you will need to search more than one database to find all of the journal articles relevant to your topic, as each database covers different journal titles.

Database Spotlight

Screen shot from web page showing description of Zoological Record database

Zoological Record

Zoological Record is the world's oldest continuing database of animal biology with coverage back to 1864. It is considered the world's leading taxonomic reference and has long acted as the world's unofficial register of animal names. The broad scope of coverage ranges from biodiversity and the environment to taxonomy and veterinary sciences. Keep up on all aspects of animal biology and biodiversity issues. Determine the first appearance of an animal name or new species and track taxonomic and nomenclatural changes. Search with the help of extensive thesauri, including subject, geographical, paleontological and taxonomic classifier (Provided by Publisher).

Essential databases

The following are important databases for this subject area, however if you don't see what you're looking for, please go to the Database Directory for Biosciences to browse a wider selection.

 

  • Scopus Essential
    Scopus, the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, features smart tools to track, analyze and visualize research. Scopus delivers an overview of the world's research output in the fields of science, technology, medicine, social sciences and arts and humanities. As research becomes increasingly global, interdisciplinary and collaborative, you can make sure that critical research from around the world is not missed.
  • Web of Science Essential
    Web of Science Core Collection provides access to the world's leading citation databases. Authoritative, multidisciplinary content covers journals worldwide, including Open Access journals and conference proceedings. Includes current and retrospective coverage in the sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities, with coverage to 1900. All cited references for all publications are fully indexed and searchable. Search across all authors and all author affiliations.Track citation activity with Citation Alerts. See citation activity and trends graphically with Citation Report.Use Analyze Results to identify trends and publication patterns.
  • PubMed central : an archive of life science journals. Essential
    PubMed is a free internet service developed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Library of Medicine. This database provides access to citations from biomedical literature from a range of sources, including Medline records from 1950 - present.
  • BIOSIS Citation Index Essential
    An expansive index to life sciences and biomedical research covering pre-clinical and experimental research, methods and instrumentation, animal studies, and more. Search across journals, meetings, patents, and books.Search precisely using key terms and controlled terminology in context using fields including biochemistry, genes, and taxonomic data.Navigate to related research using indexed cited references. Includes cited references to primary journal literature on biological research, medical research findings, and discoveries of new organisms. It covers original research reports and reviews in botany, zoology, and microbiology, and related fields such as biomedical, agriculture, pharmacology, and ecology, and interdisciplinary fields such as medicine, biochemistry, biophysics, bioengineering, and biotechnology. Available with up to 18 million records to 1926.
  • Medline Essential
    MEDLINE is a bibliographic database produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The database contains millions of citations, derived from thousands of biomedical and life science journals, and indexed with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) from the NLM controlled vocabulary. Extending back to 1946, annual input now exceeds 700,000 citations. Updated daily, MEDLINE offers novice and expert searchers seamless and up-to-the-minute access to over 23 million of the latest bibliographic citations and author abstracts from more than 5,600 biomedicine and life sciences journals in nearly 40 languages (60 languages for older journals). English abstracts are included in more than 80% of the records.
  • Zoological Record Essential
    Zoological Record is the world's oldest continuing database of animal biology with coverage back to 1864. It is considered the world's leading taxonomic reference and has long acted as the world's unofficial register of animal names. The broad scope of coverage ranges from biodiversity and the environment to taxonomy and veterinary sciences. Keep up on all aspects of animal biology and biodiversity issues. Determine the first appearance of an animal name or new species and track taxonomic and nomenclatural changes. Search with the help of extensive thesauri, including subject, geographical, paleontological and taxonomic classifier.
  • Science Direct Essential
    Science Direct provides full-text access to over 2,400 journals, plus book series, encyclopaedias and other reference works
  • JSTOR Essential
    Used by millions for research, teaching, and learning. With more than a thousand academic journals and over one million images, letters, and other primary sources, JSTOR is one of the world's most trusted sources for academic content.

Key database categories

Database Directory

You can use our Database Directory to browse a broader range of databases that are relevant to Biosciences as well as other subjects. The directory also allows you to identify databases that provide access to specific types of resources (e.g. Full Text Articles, Streaming Video, Patents, Theses and Dissertations, and much more).

Database Director - Biosciences

 

Research at the University of Manchester

The University of Manchester's research is internationally recognised. Go to Research Explorer, Manchester's research database, to discover the breadth of research produced by staff across the University.

Browse research publications from the School of Biological Sciences (please note: whilst many of the publications listed are available to access/Open Access, some records are for forthcoming titles awaiting publication).

Research Explorer search interface

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