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
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 |
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.