askWheat, part of the International Wheat Information System (WheatIS), runs a public MCP server (Model Context Protocol). Connect it to an AI assistant such as Claude and the assistant can search askWheat, convert gene IDs between RefSeq versions, place markers on the genome, find germplasm and search the literature, citing the source database for every answer. It is free, read-only and needs no account.
1 Get Claude (free)
- Create a free account at claude.ai.
- Use Claude in your web browser, or install the desktop app for macOS or Windows from claude.ai/download.
The free plan allows one custom connector, which is all askWheat needs. Free accounts have usage limits; paid plans give more.
2 Add the askWheat connector
https://askwheat.wheatis.org/mcp- In Claude, open Customize → Connectors.
- Click + Add, then Add custom connector.
- Name:
askWheat. Remote MCP server URL: the address above. Click Continue. - Under Authentication choose No sign in, then click Add.
Claude Team or Enterprise: an organisation Owner adds it once under Organization settings → Connectors → Add → Custom → Web (same name and URL, no sign in). Members then find askWheat under Customize → Connectors and click Connect.
3 Turn it on in a chat
Start a new chat, click + (lower left) → Connectors, and switch askWheat on. Then ask a question. Claude will ask permission the first time it uses an askWheat tool.
4 Example questions
Click a question to copy it, then paste it into Claude.
Genes and IDs
Regions and markers
Germplasm
Presence/absence in the Watkins landraces
Watkins phenotypes
SNP genotypes (CropSNPdb)
Gene expression (Expression Atlas)
Literature
Discovery
Tips
- Say which assembly you mean (RefSeq v1.0/v1.1 or v2.1). v1.1 gene IDs look like
TraesCS..02G.., v2.1 IDs likeTraesCS..03G... - Ask for links: every askWheat result carries a URL to the source database.
- Gene symbols come from a small curated table that is still being checked. Claude reports when a symbol-to-gene link is unverified; confirm important ones in the source.
- AI assistants can make mistakes. Check IDs and positions against the linked source before using them.
Other AI tools
Any MCP client that supports remote servers (streamable HTTP) can use the same URL. For Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http askwheat https://askwheat.wheatis.org/mcp
Available tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
search_data | Full-text search across all resources, with filters by database, data type and species |
resolve_gene | Gene symbol or IWGSC ID → all RefSeq versions, coordinates, Watkins presence, links |
gene_function | InterPro, Pfam and GO annotation (IWGSC RefSeq v2.1) |
genes_in_region | Genes in a chromosome interval (v1.0 or v2.1 coordinates, max 20 Mb) |
find_marker | iSelect 90K/80K/9K, Axiom 35K, KASP, DArT and SSR marker positions on RefSeq v2.1, with nearby genes |
find_germplasm | Cultivars, lines and accessions in CropSNPdb and the Watkins pangenome |
watkins_gene_presence | Presence/absence of a gene across the Watkins pangenome, by ancestral group, continent and growth habit |
watkins_gene_accessions | Accessions that carry or lack a gene, with filters and Seedstor links |
watkins_compare_groups | Genes whose presence differs most between two accession groups (e.g. AG3 vs Modern) |
watkins_find_genes | Pangenome genes by UniProt name, gene name or protein family |
watkins_accession | One accession's metadata and presence of listed genes |
watkins_phenotypes | Trial phenotypes of Watkins accessions (heading, height, grain traits, disease scores) |
watkins_gene_trait | Trait values of accessions with vs without a gene, per trial |
watkins_populations | Paragon x Watkins RIL populations: Watkins parent, size, seed codes, trials |
watkins_population_phenotypes | Trial phenotypes of RILs and TK-NILs (line means per trial) |
watkins_trait_genes | Variable genes that differ in presence between high- and low-trait landraces in a trial |
watkins_nil_genes | Genes in a NIL's Watkins introgression, with donor presence/absence |
snp_lines | SNP-genotyped lines in CropSNPdb (40K AGG wheat or 90K) by name or accession |
snp_genotypes | Genotype calls for named lines in a chromosome region |
snp_compare_lines | Identity between two lines and the regions where they differ |
snp_haplotype_carriers | Lines sharing a reference line's haplotype in a region (max 5 Mb) |
snp_markers | SNP array markers and positions in a region |
snp_phenotypes | Trial trait records for genotyped lines, by line or trait |
gene_expression | Where a gene is expressed (TPM by tissue/stage) and the treatments that change it, from Expression Atlas |
expression_genes | Tissue-specific or treatment-responsive genes in one Expression Atlas experiment |
expression_experiments | Bread wheat RNA-seq experiments held, with tissues/stages and contrasts |
search_literature | Publications and preprints in Europe PMC, restricted to wheat, with gene-synonym expansion and year, open-access and citation sorting |
get_paper | Abstract and full-text links for a DOI, PMID or PMCID |
data_sources | The databases behind askWheat and their record counts |
Your questions are processed by the AI provider you use. askWheat receives only the tool requests the assistant makes and keeps standard web server logs. There is no login and no cost.