Genome Project Solutions

Jeffrey Boore is co-author on a manuscript published by the journal Nature Biotechnology that reports the work of dozens of scientists through the Genome Standards Consortium over the past several years toward establishing standards for collecting information on genomes that are being sequenced.

The citation of the manuscript is: Field, D., G. Garrity, T. Gray, N. Morrison, J. Selengut, P. Sterk, T. Tatusova, N. Thomson, M. Allen, S. V. Angiuoli, M. Ashburner, N. Axelrod, S. Baldauf, S. Ballard, J. L. Boore, G. Cochrane, J. Cole, P. Dawyndt, P. de Vos, C. de Pamphilis, R. Edwards, N. Faruque, R. Feldman, J. Gilbert, P. Gilna, F. O. Glöckner, P. Goldstein, R. Guralnick, D. Haft, D. Hancock, H. Hermjakob, C. Hertz-Fowler, P. Hugenholtz, I. Joint, L. Kagan, M. Kane, J. Kennedy, G. Kowalchuk, R. Kottmann, E. Kolker, S. Karvitz, N. Kyripides, J. Leebens-Mack, S. Lewis, K. Li, A. Liste, P. Lord, N. Maltsev, V. Markowitz, J. Martiny, B. Methe, R. Moxon, K. Nelson, J. Parkhill, L. Proctor, S. Sansone, A. Spiers, R. Stevens, P. Swift, C. Taylor, Y. Tateno, A. Tett, S. Turner, D. Ussery, B. Vaughan, N. Ward, T. Whetzel, G. Wilson and A. Wipat, 200x Towards a richer description of our complete collection of genomes and metagenomes: the “Minimum Information about a Genome Sequence” (MIGS) specification. Nature Biotechnology 25(11): 1253-1259.

Abstract from the manuscript:

Toward a richer description of our complete collection of genomes and metagenomes: The minimum
information about a genome sequence (MIGS) specification: With the quantity of genomic data increasing at an exponential rate, it is imperative that these data be captured electronically, in a standard format. Standardization activities must proceed within the auspices of open-access and international working bodies. To tackle the issues surrounding the development of better descriptions of genomic investigations, we have formed the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC). Here, we introduce the minimum information about a genome sequence (MIGS) specification with the intent of promoting participation in its development and discussing the resources that will be required to develop improved mechanisms of metadata capture and exchange. As part of its wider goals, the GSC also supports improving the ‘transparency’ of the information contained in existing genomic databases.

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