query-ensembl

Query the Ensembl REST API for genomic annotations, sequences, and variants.

1|Updated Mar 12, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/yf8578/clawomics --skill query-ensembl-yf8578
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: query-ensembl
Source: https://github.com/yf8578/clawomics/tree/main/skills/query-ensembl
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/yf8578/clawomics --skill query-ensembl-yf8578

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires requests, json, and includes scripts (resource) and references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill provides programmatic access to the Ensembl REST API, enabling users to retrieve detailed genomic information for genes, variants, and sequences.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Gene Information: Look up genes by symbol or Ensembl ID to get their location, sequence, and description.
  • Variant Analysis: Query variants using rsIDs to find their genomic context and potential effects.
  • Sequence Retrieval: Fetch genomic, cDNA, or protein sequences for specific Ensembl IDs.
  • Regional Overlap: Identify genes or other features within a specified genomic region.
  • Cross-Species Homologs: Find orthologous genes in different species.
  • Use Case: A researcher needs to find the genomic location and known variants for a specific gene of interest, like BRCA2, and then check if any orthologs exist in the mouse genome.

Quick Start

Use the query-ensembl skill to look up the gene BRCA2 and print its Ensembl ID and genomic location.

Frequently Asked Questions about query-ensembl

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I query the Ensembl REST API for gene information and genomic sequences?

To query the Ensembl REST API for genomic data, you can look up genes by their symbol or Ensembl ID to retrieve their exact genomic location, description, and sequences. This allows direct retrieval of genomic, cDNA, or protein sequences for specific identifiers.

Can I find cross-species homologs and orthologous genes using Ensembl?

Yes, you can find cross-species homologs using Ensembl by performing orthologous gene searches. This functionality allows researchers to input a gene of interest and identify its orthologs in different species, such as finding the mouse genome equivalent of a human gene.

Does this Skill support variant analysis using rsIDs from dbSNP?

Yes, the Skill supports variant analysis by querying variants using their rsIDs. It retrieves the genomic context and potential effects of the variant, providing detailed genomic information directly from the Ensembl REST API for sequence annotation.

What is the best way to identify genes and transcripts within a specific genomic region?

The best way to identify features within a specific genomic region is to perform a regional overlap query using the Ensembl REST API. This retrieves all genes and transcripts located within the specified genomic coordinates for sequence annotation.

Do I need the requests library to retrieve genomic annotations and variant information?

Yes, you need the requests library and json module installed in your Python environment to use this Skill. These dependencies are required to handle the HTTP requests and parse the JSON responses returned by the Ensembl REST API for genomic annotations.