+ return getAttribute(identifier, PARENT);
+ }
+
+ /**
+ * Calls the Ensembl lookup REST endpoint and retrieves the 'species' for the
+ * given identifier, or null if not found
+ *
+ * @param identifier
+ * @return
+ */
+ public String getSpecies(String identifier)
+ {
+ return getAttribute(identifier, SPECIES);
+ }
+
+ /**
+ * @param identifier
+ * @param attribute
+ * @return
+ */
+ protected String getAttribute(String identifier, String attribute)
+ {