I am pleased to announce the release of Microsoft Biology Foundation (MBF) 2.0 beta 1, an open-source Microsoft .NET library and application programming interface for bioinformatics research. This beta provides the first significant update since MBF 1.0. Notable improvements include:
- Increased capacity for de novo assembly of larger and more complex species than V1
- New comparative assembly functions for characteristic genetic diversity within or between species
- Core object model improvements for a smaller memory footprint and increased parallel processing
MBF 2.0 beta 1 has parity with all MBF 1.0 tools and features plus updated documentation.
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(opens in new tab)Your feedback on MBF 1.0 was extremely supportive and is helping us develop MBF 2.0. We are asking you once again to download the beta and send us your feedback. Just download and try the MBF 2.0 beta 1 (opens in new tab). Send us your feedback or report bugs through our discussion forum (opens in new tab) or issue tracker (opens in new tab).
To make it a little more interesting, we’re giving away an Xbox 360 4GB console with Kinect (opens in new tab) bundle to one talented developer in our Microsoft Biology Foundation Coding Contest (opens in new tab).
To Enter the Contest
- Visit the MBF Coding Contest site (opens in new tab) and read the complete rules (opens in new tab).
- Use our MBF object model, parsers, algorithms, and web connectors to build an application that helps researchers solve problems in the fields of bioinformatics and genomics.
- Submit your MBF 2.0 beta 1-based application to us between today and July 15, 2011, and you’ll be entered to win!
The winning entry will be selected by a panel of judges.
Learn More
- Learn More and Install MBF 2.0 Beta 1 (opens in new tab)
- Enter the MBF 2.0 Beta 1 Coding Contest (opens in new tab)
- Participate in the MBF Discussion Forum (opens in new tab)
- Report MBF Issues (opens in new tab)
—Rick Benge, Community Program Manager, Microsoft Research Connections