News

16. August - Ruder Boskovic Institute joins the DNA Bank Network and GGBN

The Ruder Boskovic Institute (RBI) is the leading Croatian national research institute for natural and live sciences. Its Center for Marine Research (Centar za Istrazivanje Mora, CIM) is located in Rovinj (Croatia). The CIM investigates marine ecosystems with a special focus on the Northern Adriatic Sea. The CIM holds a live cell culture collection of marine phyto- and zooplankton with a special focus on toxic species. This culture collection is accompanied by a research collection of corresponding DNA samples. The RBI and its CIM make their collection of DNA samples and corresponding live cell cultures available by using BioCASe through the DNA Bank Network and the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) as well as the first data provider from Croatia at Gobal Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

16. July - GGBN 2014 First Conference Announcement: Biodiversity Biobanking: Building a Trusted Community of Accessible Genomic Collections

During the week of June 30 2014, the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) will hold the first international conference on biodiversity repositories. Please see full conference announcement here [1].

Conference goals include:

• Engage new members and strengthen the community by promoting collaborations among biorepositories
• Advance the field of genomic collections, data management, and accessibility
• Promote international networking compliant with ABS and CBD
• Link people, communities, platforms, and collections

Please join the Global Genome Biodiversity Network in London to communicate ideas, new tools, expertise on biodiversity biobanking, and to encourage natural history collections to make databases of genomic collections public and broadly available for research while respecting the spirit of the Nagoya Protocol. A second conference announcement with a full agenda, invited speakers, and call for abstracts will be posted on the upcoming conference website on 1 November 2013.

11. July - The National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution makes its genomic collections discoverable for research

The National Museum of Natural History is proud to announce that as of July 11, 2013, tissue and DNA samples are being made available through the DNA Bank Network's online database. The data represent the breadth of NMNH collections including birds, insects, spiders, plants, mammals, worms, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and will increase as existing data are migrated to the museum's catalog and inventory systems and as new data are digitized. This work is part of the Museum's efforts in the Global Genome Initiative to make the genomic collections of Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) members discoverable for research through the Global Genome Biodiversity Network's Data Portal.

28. May - Senckenberg Frankfurt and BiK-F join the DNA Bank Network

The DNA Bank Network welcomes its seventh partner! The DNA bank of Senckenberg Gesellschaft fuer Naturforschung (SGN) and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (LOEWE BiK-F) has joined the DNA Bank Network and the Global Genome Biodiversity Network on May 28th 2013. The DNA bank of Senckenberg (SGN) and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (LOEWE BiK-F) store DNA from all organismal groups for research purposes. At present, the fast growing collection numbers about 5000 DNA samples. For reference purposes, corresponding voucher material for almost all DNA samples is kept in the collections of the SGN. To share the data via the DNA Bank Network's webportal BioCASe is used and the DNA data have been mapped with ABCDDNA. For now a test set of 1.100 DNA samples of Senckenberg Frankfurt and BiK-F is available via our webportal.

22. April - GGBN User Needs Survey/Participation kindly requested

Founded in 2011, The Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) is a networked community of biorepositories that provides value to its users by making genomic collections discoverable for research. We are reaching out to you as a potential user, contributor, or partner biorepository in order to better understand the needs of our audiences.

Please take a few moments to answer the questions at the following link: Click here to take survey

If you know someone who may have an interest in GGBN, please send them the link to this survey.

This survey will be open through May 6th.

18.-19. April 2013 - GGI Capturing Genomes Workshop at Smithsonian

This workshop is led by the Smithsonian’s Global Genome Initiative, which aims to preserve the genomic diversity of life on earth for future research and discovery. Steps toward this vision will be guided by four collaborative activities: Biodiversity Research and Collecting, Biorepositories (Global Genome Biodiversity Network), Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, and Engagement. Preservation of genomic diversity starts with collaborative collecting and collection management efforts, including appropriate access and benefits sharing (ABS). Online access to these resources for genomic research, including genomic samples, vouchers, molecular analysis, publications, and images requires a federated information infrastructure. The sequencing of earth’s genomes requires the genomic samples, biotechnology, and computational support. The future of genomics requires a well trained workforce, fostered through fellowships across partner organizations. The Global Genome Initiative will support these activities by providing the organizational capacity and advocacy for genomic research in the changing field of biodiversity research. This workshop will kick start the collaborative collecting efforts of GGI.

24.-25. July 2012 - Workshop on Management of Molecular Collections

Together with other European Institutions and SYNTHESYS scientists of the DNA Bank Network are organising a workshop on Management of Molecular Collections.

Location: CSIC, Madrid (Spain)

Duration and date: Lunch-to-lunch meeting, 24-25 July 2012

Full title: Molecular collections management and linkage between biological specimen repositories and molecular sequence databases.

Trainers: Rob Huxley (NHM-London, UK), Jacqueline Mackenzie-Dodds (NHM-London, UK), Birgit Gemeinholzer (DNA Bank Network, University of Giessen, Germany), Gabriele Droege (DNA Bank Network, BGBM, Germany), Isabel Rey Fraile (MNCN-CSIC, ES).

Registration deadline: 21/05/2012

Further instructions and information can be found at: http://synthesys.cybertaxonomy.africamuseum.be/node/103

15.-18. May 2012 - ISBER Annual Conference

A scientist of the DNA Bank Network will attend the ISBER conference this year. Session topics are expected to cover the following areas:

• The Evolving Global Research Environment: New Partnerships and Collaborations • Keeping Step with New Technologies • Innovative Technologies • Keeping Step with the Evolving Ethical-Legal Environment • Ensuring Sustainability in the Face of Global Crises

Date/Time/Room: Thursday, May 17, 2010, 4:30 pm-6.30 pm
Session Title: Biobanking Informatics: Making the Right Connections
Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network: Information Architecture for a Global Network of Biodiversity DNA and Tissue Banks
Presenter: Gabriele Droege

19.-21. April 2012 - Conference "The role of biobanks for research and protection of forest biodiversity" in Viterbo, Italy

A scientist of the DNA Bank Network will give an overview about our project and its global outreach. The Conference will highlight cutting-edge advances in all major disciplines of forest genetic resources.

Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network: Information Architecture for a Global Network of Biodiversity DNA and Tissue Banks
Presenter: Gabriele Droege

27.-29. February 2012 - Workshop on genomic data standards

GBIF is organizing a workshop, in collaboration with the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC), on specieslevel biodiversity and genomic data standards with the aim of ensuring alignment and harmonization of efforts. The workshop will contribute to the ongoing work of the USA National Science Foundation-funded Research Coordination Network, which seeks to promote the integration of genomic standards with ecological and species level standards. The GSC is an international community that promotes mechanisms for standardizing descriptions of genomes and especially the contextual information (e.g. environmental variables) associated with genomic samples. One goal of the workshop is to align ABCDDNA, DarwinCore and MIxS, a delegate (G.Droege) of the DNA Bank Network will attend.

25 February 2012 - Software workshop at GfBS conference in Bonn, Germany

The Workshop will take place at the ZFMK in Bonn at 25 Februar 2012 during the GfBS conference. The Workshop will give an overview about the technical infrastructure of BioCASE, GBIF and the DNA Bank Network. Furthermore the workshop will propose best practice guidelines for referencing voucher specimens, DNA samples and GenBank accessions. The open source software DNA Module is an easy way of managing your DNA collection and referencing DNA samples with any GBIF compliant database worldwide. Attendees can try out the DNA Module and the web portal. In preparation of this workshop attendees are called upon to check if their own institutions are providing specimen data to GBIF already, and if data on DNA voucher specimens are being made available via GBIF. Please bring your own laptop if possible.

Deadline for registration 31.12.2011!

Deutsche news-Meldung auf GBIF.de

16-19 November 2011 – ESBB Inaugural Conference – Marseilles, France

The European, Middle-Eastern and African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB) will realize its ESBB Inaugural Meeting in Marseille 16–19 Nov 2011 under participation of a DNA Bank Network scientist. Under the Conference theme: “Identifying the challenges and the opportunities for biorepositories today and in the next 5 years” a wide range of topics will be covered:

• Next steps in biobank networking and harmonisation

• Integrating research biobanking with the provision of healthcare services

• The need for environmental specimen banking

• Challenges and opportunities in the provision of biospecimens for clinical trials

• Networking of veterinary biobanks

• Scientific and technological advances that are helping to measure and to maximise sample quality

• Biobanking economics: how to justify and maintain long-term funding

• Museum biobanking in Europe

• The ELSI of biobanking in times of personalised medicine and systems biology

The DNA Bank Network will present a project poster.

Presentation details:
Poster Title: The DNA Bank Network: banking the DNA of any organism - except humans
Presenter: Jonas Astrin

1-7 October, 2011 DNA Bank Network at the 18th Governing Board Meeting of GBIF in Buenos Aires, Argentina

All partners of the DNA Bank Network are parts of GBIF nodes. The four German partners even heading subnodes in Germany. A delegate of the DNA Bank Network will present a poster of our project at the GBIF Governing Board Meeting. All posters shown there can be found here

Sep 15, 2011 DNA Bank Network at the EuroMarine meeting in Bremen, Germany

A scientist of the DNA Bank Network will give an overview about our project with focus on data architecture at the EuroMarine Meeting. This workshop is a satellite meeting of the Genomics Standards Consortium Meeting. Presentation details:

Conference: 27-30 September, 2011
Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network – open access to DNA data and samples worldwide by using GBIF technologies
Presenter: Gabriele Droege

Sep 01, 2011 DNA Bank Network poster at Botanikertagung 2011 in Berlin, Germany

A scientist of the DNA Bank Network will present a poster of our project at the Botanikertagung 2011. Presentation details:

Conference: 18-23 September, 2011
Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network – Open access to DNA samples, reference vouchers and related data for biodiversity research
Presenter: Holger Zetzsche

Aug 20, 2011 DNA Bank Network poster at YouMaReS in Bremerhaven, Germany

An associated scientist of the DNA Bank Network will present a poster of our project at the YouMaReS. Presentation details:

Conference: 07-09 September, 2011
Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network – open access to DNA data and samples worldwide by using GBIF technologies
Presenter: Maren Gleisberg (GBIF.DE team)

Jun 30, 2011 DNA Bank Network at the 8th biennial conference of the Systematics Association in Belfast, United Kingdom

A Scientist of the DNA Bank Network will give an overview about the project at the Conference of the Systematics Association in Belfast with special focus on data mobilisation as well as voucher and sample deposition. Presentation details:

Conference: 04-08 July, 2011
Session Title: Museum specimens and acient DNA
Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network - A platform for open access to voucher referenced DNA samples and data worldwide.
Presenter: Gabriele Droege

May 14, 2011 Amorphophallus titanum flowering again at the Botanic Garden in Berlin

This morning the flower of Titan arum has began to open. A plant from same origin population has flowered two years ago and has been collected for the DNA bank of the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin (DB 4216).

2011-05-14 13:51:36

A webcam has been installed and can be found here. Find out all available Amorphophallus samples in the DNA Bank Network: Amorphophallus

May 09, 2011 North Korean DNA plant samples available

As of now, the DNA Bank Network enables access to 384 DNA samples and georeferenced specimens including digital images from vascular plant specimens collected in North Korea for scientific analyses. The BGBM DNA Bank owes that collection mainly to a donation by Dr. Mark B.M. Suh (Pugwash Council). It was complemented by an expedition to the Mt. Chilbo region under participation of Dr. Birgit Gemeinholzer, Dr. Regine Jahn and Dr. Jo Yong Gil. Voucher specimens of these rare samples are safeguarded at the Herbarium Berolinense.

Apr 27, 2011 DNA Bank Network at the 22nd Pacific Science Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A Scientist of the DNA Bank Network will give an overview about the project at the Pacific Science Congress in Kuala Lumpur with special focus on the potential of this data architecture for science regarding the pacific region. Presentation details:

Conference: 14-18 June, 2011
Session Title: Biological Collections in the Pacific: Developing critical infrastructure for research and applications
Presentation Title : DNA Bank Network - Information infrastructure for an international DNA and Tissue Bank Network.
Presenter: Gabriele Droege

Apr 14, 2011 White Paper has been published

The DNA Bank Network has recently published a White Paper at Biopreservation and Biobanking. The authors describe the general aims of the network, the established infrastructure of the partner DNA banks and the principles of the information technology implemented. Various benefits for its users and partners are highlighted and the prerequisites for collaboration are outlined.

Gemeinholzer, B., Dröge, G., Zetzsche, H., Haszprunar, G., Klenk, H.-P., Güntsch, A., Berendsohn, W.G. & Wägele, J.-W. (2011): The DNA Bank Network: the start from a German initiative. Biopreservation and Biobanking. April 2011, 9 (1): 51-55. Abstract

Jan 12, 2011 DNA Bank Network to present at the BioSystematics in Berlin, Germany

Scientists of the DNA Bank Network will give an overview about the project at the BioSystematics in Berlin and furthermore organise a Software Bazar for relevant software tools (click here for synopsis). Presentation details:

Date/Time/Room: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 8:30 am - 10.30 am, Seminaris
Session Title: Inventorying and Managing Biodiversity
Presentation Title : DNA Bank Network - Access to voucher referenced DNA for biodiversity genomics.
Presenter: Holger Zetzsche

Date/Time/Room: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 8:30 am - 5 pm, Seminaris
Session Title: Software Bazar - Tools for systematists - Manage and share your data
Presentation Title : The DNA Bank Network - A service to facilitate open access to DNA samples and voucher data worldwide
Presenter: Gabriele Droege, Holger Zetzsche

Nov 29, 2010 New publication outlines field techniques to preserve tissue and specimen quality

An Abc Taxa publication on preservation techniques in the field for different tissue types and organisms has been released recently. Currently used field tissue storage methods and their efficiency are evaluated. Furthermore, recommendations are given on how to set up a collection plan and sampling strategy, checklists of documentation essentials and equipment for collection trips are appended.

The publication is available here.

Gemeinholzer, B., Rey, I., Weising, K., Grundmann, M., Muellner, A.N., Zetzsche, H., Droege, G., Seberg, O., Petersen, G., Rawson, D.M., Weigt, L.A. (2010): Organizing specimen and tissue preservation in the field for subsequent molecular analyses. IN: ABC-Taxa, Volume 8 - Manual on Field Recording Techniques and Protocols for All Taxa Biodiversity Inventories, Chapter 7, 129-157.

Nov 08, 2010 DNA Bank Network at the International Conference for Environmental Specimen Banks

Scientists of the BGBM DNA Bank, member of the DNA Bank Network, are invited to join the International Conference for Environmental Specimen Banks in Berlin hosted by Federal Environment Agency Germany on November 15-16, 2010. The conference aims to bring together biobanking experts and policy makers to address critical questions of environmental and human biomonitoring, analytical chemistry and nature protection. Presentation details:

Date & Time: Monday & Tuesday November 15 & 16, 2010, 10:30 - 18:00 pm, poster presentation.
Poster Title: The DNA Bank Network - A shared portal for organismic DNA and tissue banks.
Presenters: Gabriele Droege & Holger Zetzsche

Sep 15, 2010 DNA Bank Network to attend the congress "Tools for Identifying Biodiversity: Progress and Problems" in Paris, France

Representatives of the DNA Bank Network will present an overview of the DNA Bank Network at the congress "Tools for Identifying Biodiversity: Progress and Problems" taking place at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, France from September 20 - 22, 2010. Presentation details:

Date & Time: Tuesday & Wednesday September 21 & 22, 2010, 13:30 - 15:00 pm, poster presentation nr. 36.
Poster Title: DNA Bank Network - connecting biological collections and sequence databases by means of long-term DNA storage with online accession.
Presenters: Matthias Geiger & Nicolas Straube

May 20, 2010 DNA Bank Network to present at the SPNHC & CBA-ABC Joint Conference in Ottawa, Canada

Scientists of the DNA Bank Network will introduce their project and webportal at this years SPNHC conference - Biodiversity 2010 and Beyond - Science and Collections. taking place at the University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) from May 31 - June 5, 2010. Presentation details:

Date/Time/Room: Thursday June 3, 2010, 9:20 - 9:40 am, Desmarais, Room 1130
Session Title: SPNHC Digitizing Initiatives
Presentation Title: DNA Bank Network - Referencing DNA with specimens, sequences and publications based on GBIF web services
Presenters: Holger Zetzsche & Gabriele Droege

May 20, 2010 Species inventory at the GEO Day of Biodiversity 2010

Botanists of the Botanischer Verein von Berlin und Brandenburg, the DNA Bank Network, and the Botanic Garden and the Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem will go on a field excursion around Kerkwitz (Niederlausitz) contributing to this years GEO Day of Biodiversity (go to site). As a proposed open-pit brown coal mining region the lake-dotted landscape rich in woodland is severely endangered. Objective of the tour is the collection of witnessing voucher specimens and tissue samples for DNA extraction next to a species inventory.

At this year's GEO Day of Biodiversity 248 events in more than 8 countries will take place on June 12. In Germany, GEO Day of Biodiversity has for years been the largest field research campaign. During the GEO Day activities, species long since believed lost are frequently rediscovered. It is therefore an important contribution to efforts to document and conserve our flora and fauna. Find out more...

May 18, 2010 More than 4400 publications related to DNA samples and DNA vouchers searchable

Referencing a DNA sample to its specimen as well as to inferred DNA sequences and vice versa is one main focus of the DNA Bank Network. Publications related to DNA samples and their vouchers preserved by the partners of the DNA Bank Network are an additional valuable source. The DSMZ records each publication related to their strains centrally. This precious and very useful repository is now implemented into the Network's web portal, together with relevant publications of the other partners. Links to online versions of abstracts are included. Further publications will be added continuously. Go to site

May 03, 2010 9000 further vertebrate DNA voucher samples: complete Bavarian ichthyofauna available now!

In December 2003 the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology Munich (ZSM) and the Landesfischereiverband Bayern (LfB) initiated a large scale collection program, in order to cover the diversity of Bavarian freshwater fishes. The primary goal of the program was to collect, identify and deposit morphological and genetic voucher specimens of the approximately 100 naturally occurring fish species in all major and many minor drainages in Bavaria and adjacent regions. Now about 9000 DNA voucher samples covering almost 100% of the Bavarian fish fauna are available on demand.

Apr 14, 2010 Contribution at ISBER 2010 Annual Meeting in Rotterdam, Netherlands

A scientist of the DNA Bank Network has been selected to present at the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) 2010 Annual Meeting & Exhibits, May 11-14, 2010 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Presentation details:

Date/Time/Room: Thursday, May 13, 2010, 5:10 pm-5.30 pm, Fortis Bank Zaal
Session Title: Challenges and Solutions in Biobanking Technology and Information
Presentation Title: The DNA Bank Network - A shared portal for non-human biorepositories, providing live references to DNA and specimen data (abstract number NIN 05)
Presenter: Holger Zetzsche

Mar 22, 2010 Presentation at the International Symposium for Planning the Baekdudaegan Arboretum in Seoul, Korea

The DNA Bank Network will be represented by an invited speaker at the Planning Symposium for the Baekdudaegan Arboretum held on 29th March to1st April, 2010 at COEX in Seoulin (Seoul, South Korea) Presentation details:

Date: Wednesday, March 31 2010 Zetzsche, H., Droege, G., Zippel, E. & Gemeinholzer, B. - Collections management at the Botanical Museum and Botanic Garden Berlin-Dahlem (BGBM) - the DNA Bank as a driver for data and knowledge integration.

Nov 16, 2009 12000 further procaryote samples available for on-demand DNA extractions

More than 12000 samples of microorganisms and cell cultures from almost 4400 species are per today additionally available for on-demand DNA extractions. Therewith the entire specimen database of the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ) is now searchable via the DNA Bank Network's webportal.

Nov 2, 2009 DNA Bank Network to present at the 3rd International Barcode of Life Conference 2009

Participants of the DNA Bank Network will be presenting at the Third International Barcode of Life Conference in Mexico City, 7-12 November 2009.

The following are specific presentation details at the conference:

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2009
Zetzsche, H. & Gemeinholzer, B. Long-term storage of tissue and DNA for plant DNA barcoding

Date: Wednesday, November 11 2009
Knebelsberger, T. Beyond barcoding - Secure DNA storage

Date: Wednesday, November 11 2009
Raupach, M. Molecular taxonomy of ground beetles (Insecta: Carabidae) in Central Europe: a multi-marker approach

Sep 30, 2009 Significant mark of 10.000 DNA samples surpassed

Today the significant mark of 10.000 fully documented DNA samples has been surpassed. Thereby, DNA samples of more than 6000 species from 156 different countries are available via the webportal. After launching its searchable database in April 2009 the partners of the DNA Bank Network continuously proceeded in their efforts to deposit DNA samples physically and informatically linked to their respective specimens.

Aug 17, 2009 Workshop about long-term storage of DNA samples held in Leiden

A workshop about institutional and technical strategies for long-term storage of nonhuman DNA samples has been held at the Systematics 2009 conference in Leiden, Netherlands on August 12th. The organizers thank all participants for their valuable contributions and the conference board for their help. Download summary and abstracts.