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.
Field
Dawn
D
Natural Environmental Research Council Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK. dfield@ceh.ac.uk
Garrity
George
G
Gray
Tanya
T
Morrison
Norman
N
Selengut
Jeremy
J
Sterk
Peter
P
Tatusova
Tatiana
T
Thomson
Nicholas
N
Allen
Michael J
MJ
Angiuoli
Samuel V
SV
Ashburner
Michael
M
Axelrod
Nelson
N
Baldauf
Sandra
S
Ballard
Stuart
S
Boore
Jeffrey
J
Cochrane
Guy
G
Cole
James
J
Dawyndt
Peter
P
De Vos
Paul
P
DePamphilis
Claude
C
Edwards
Robert
R
Faruque
Nadeem
N
Feldman
Robert
R
Gilbert
Jack
J
Gilna
Paul
P
Glöckner
Frank Oliver
FO
Goldstein
Philip
P
Guralnick
Robert
R
Haft
Dan
D
Hancock
David
D
Hermjakob
Henning
H
Hertz-Fowler
Christiane
C
Hugenholtz
Phil
P
Joint
Ian
I
Kagan
Leonid
L
Kane
Matthew
M
Kennedy
Jessie
J
Kowalchuk
George
G
Kottmann
Renzo
R
Kolker
Eugene
E
Kravitz
Saul
S
Kyrpides
Nikos
N
Leebens-Mack
Jim
J
Lewis
Suzanna E
SE
Li
Kelvin
K
Lister
Allyson L
AL
Lord
Phillip
P
Maltsev
Natalia
N
Markowitz
Victor
V
Martiny
Jennifer
J
Methe
Barbara
B
Mizrachi
Ilene
I
Moxon
Richard
R
Nelson
Karen
K
Parkhill
Julian
J
Proctor
Lita
L
White
Owen
O
Sansone
Susanna-Assunta
SA
Spiers
Andrew
A
Stevens
Robert
R
Swift
Paul
P
Taylor
Chris
C
Tateno
Yoshio
Y
Tett
Adrian
A
Turner
Sarah
S
Ussery
David
D
Vaughan
Bob
B
Ward
Naomi
N
Whetzel
Trish
T
San Gil
Ingio
I
Wilson
Gareth
G
Wipat
Anil
A
D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards*; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000592:standards*; D007257:Information Theory; D038622:Internationality