BIOSIS Citation Index: About BIOSIS Citation Index

Type: Database of scientific and technical publications

Subject: Molecular and cell biology, pharmacology, endocrinology, genetics, neurosciences, infectious diseases, ecology and organism biology

Content: Articles, books, reports, meeting papers, US patents

BIOSIS Citation Index (BCI) covers all major areas in biological science, with broad coverage in molecular and cell biology, pharmacology, endocrinology, genetics, neurosciences, infectious diseases, ecology and organism biology.

BCI provides access to over 22 million records from journals, books, reports, meetings, and U.S. patents dating back to 1926.

BCI shares a similar interface to Web of Science, but it also provides you with some additional search options.

Additional search options:

• Taxonomic Data. If you are studying an organism, you can start your search by using the biological classification of the organism. This is done by selecting the "Taxonomic Data" in the search drop-down box and then either enter a search term for e.g. a species or use the "Select from List" to browse the classification.
• Major Concepts. Searching by using the "Major Concept" option from the search drop-down menu is similar to searching for a specific subject clasification. If you are getting too many search results, try combining your search keywords with one of the "Major Concepts" from the "Select from List".
• Literature Type. Literature type refers to the type of content that exists within the article, book, meeting paper etc. The list of literature types are found by selecting "Literature Type" in the search drop-down menu. The following describes some of the literature types you can search by, and their uses:

A taxonomic review is useful to gain an understanding of how and why an organism is classified the way it is. Biologists may do a taxonomic review of several species by comparing and contrasting physical characteristics. Illustrations are frequently used.

A taxanomic key is used by biologists to identify new organisms. It can be used to understand how new species are classified.

A protocol literature type focuses on methods and practices used for a particular area of research. This is the type of information included in a lab manual, and it can be used to study the methods used by a research team or methods that are recommended as best practice. You will find similar information using the manual literature type.