About RSS Web Feeds


What is RSS?

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." It is a format mostly used to distribute "feeds" — lists of headlines, update notices and sometimes content — to a wide number of people.

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What are the benefits of RSS?

RSS benefits organizations who update their content and users who want frequent updates to news, calendars or text they select.

With RSS, organizations can distribute updated content in a clear and concise manner, avoiding the confusion and disorganization of a mass e-mail notifying users about updated content.

Users can get the latest headlines and articles (or even audio files, photographs or video) from one place, as soon as it's published, without having to visit several different Web sites every day.

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How does RSS work?

RSS is based on Extensible Markup Language (XML), a language designed to store, carry and exchange data over the Web. Information is placed into a file (usually with an .xml or .rss file extension) that is stored on a Web server.

Web site publishers create an XML or RSS file containing, for example, updated headlines, along with the URLs to the specific Web pages and a description of the updated content.

Users can then get an RSS reader - a program - to collect and monitor their favorite Web sites - or feeds - in one centralized location. This reader can check a list of feeds on behalf of a user and display any updated articles that it finds. Feed readers provide a simple way to consolidate content as well as to notify users when changes have been made.

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What kinds of RSS readers are available?

There are many different types of RSS readers - some Web-based, some included with the most recent version of any Web browser and some client software programs that need to be downloaded to and installed on your local computer.

The RSS feeds on Genome.gov are all published through a service called Feedburner. Feedburner provides you with the choice to subscribe to the RSS feeds with any of the popular Web-based readers such as My Yahoo!, My AOL, Newsgator, Bloglines, Netvibes, Google, etc.

You can also see an extensive list of different types of RSS readers on Wikipedia. NHGRI does not recommend or endorse any reader in particular.

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What do I do with RSS feeds after I have chosen an RSS reader?

Once you have chosen an RSS reader, you have to decide what content you want to receive by finding and subscribing to the relevant RSS feeds. For example, if you would like to receive the latest NHGRI News Releases, simply visit the Newsroom section on the NHGRI home page and you will notice an orange RSS button on the right hand side.

You can add an RSS feed to your favorite personal Web site portal, so when you call up that personalized page you will always see the latest news from NHGRI.

To add an RSS feed you will need the URL. Simply copy the URL and paste it into your particular news reader/aggregator to subscribe.

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What RSS feeds can I access from genome.gov?

Currently, the genome.gov has the following RSS feeds are available and indicated by the RSS icon throughout the site:

Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI News Releases
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI Calendar of Events
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI-Related News
Go to Web page | RSS GWAS Catalog Updates
Go to Web page | RSS Training Programs - Internships, Fellowships
Go to Web page | RSS Educational Programs - Courses, Workshops, Continuing Education
Go to Web page | RSS Job Openings
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI Division of Extramural Research News Features
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI Division of Intramural Research News Features
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI Office of the Director News Features
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI Funding Opportunities: Research
Go to Web page | RSS NHGRI Funding Opportunities: Training and Career Development
Go to Web page | RSS Homepage Highlights

If you would like to suggest a new feed please let us know!

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Last Updated: January 26, 2011