A side-by-side look at the Genomics MCP and Pubmed MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Genomics MCP for biology & bioinformatics work as a local process; choose Pubmed MCP Server for biology & bioinformatics as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
list_sources, search_datasets, describe_dataset.pubmed_search_articles, pubmed_fetch_articles, pubmed_fetch_fulltext.Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Biology & Bioinformatics | Biology & Bioinformatics |
| Quality signal | 59/100 · Good | 63/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 3 | 163 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 23 | 11 |
| Full listing | View Genomics MCP | View Pubmed MCP Server |
list_sourcesList data and reference sources, their state and supported operations.search_datasetsSearch one archive/catalog for studies or datasets by text query.
Available for: ega, ena, encode, geo, ncbi_datasets.describe_datasetDescribe a study/dataset by native accession, with linked entities.
Available for: ega, ena, encode, geo, ncbi_datasets.list_filesList files of a study/dataset with format, size, checksums, index and readiness.
Available for: ega, ena, encode, geo, local, ncbi_datasets, s3.list_samplesList samples of a study/dataset as supplied by the source.
Available for: ega, ena, encode, geo, ncbi_datasets.get_sample_metadataGet one sample's metadata and phenotype values exactly as supplied by the source.
Available for: ega, ena, encode, geo, ncbi_datasets.fetch_fileStart a bounded download of a file (and index) to the local work dir. Returns a transfer job; files above the default limit need budget_bytes.
Available for: default.get_transfer_statusGet progress/result of a transfer started by fetch_file.
Available for: default.cancel_transferCancel a running transfer.
Available for: default.get_readsAlignments overlapping an interval from indexed BAM/CRAM. Flag filters follow samtools -f/-F. CRAM needs a matching reference unless self-contained.
Available for: bam, cram.get_coverageRead depth over an interval from indexed BAM/CRAM (default excludes UNMAP, SECONDARY, QCFAIL, DUP, like samtools depth).
Available for: bam, cram.get_pileupPer-position base counts over an interval from indexed BAM/CRAM.
Available for: bam, cram.pubmed_search_articlesSearch PubMed with full query syntax, structured filters, date ranges, and optional summariespubmed_fetch_articlesFetch article metadata by PMID: abstract, authors, journal, MeSH terms, grants, a collective author's investigators on request, linked retraction and correction noticespubmed_fetch_fulltextFetch full text by PMID, PMCID, or DOI, falling back from PMC to Europe PMC to Unpaywallpubmed_europepmc_searchSearch Europe PMC for preprints, patents, Agricola, and open-access records PubMed doesn't carrypubmed_europepmc_fetchFetch complete Europe PMC records, including the untruncated abstract, as `records: [{ source, epmcId }]pubmed_format_citationsFormat citations in APA 7th, MLA 9th, BibTeX, RIS, or Vancouver (ICMJE/NLM), with linked retraction and correction noticespubmed_find_relatedFind similar articles, citing articles, or references for a PMIDpubmed_spell_checkCorrect a misspelled PubMed query via NCBI ESpellpubmed_lookup_meshLook up MeSH headings with tree numbers, scope notes, and entry termspubmed_lookup_citationResolve partial references, up to 25 at a time, to PMIDs via ECitMatchpubmed_convert_idsConvert between DOI, PMID, and PMCID via the PMC ID ConverterPaste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
{
"mcpServers": {
"genomics-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"rewire-genomics-mcp"
]
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"pubmed-mcp-server-2": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"@cyanheads/pubmed-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}