Project Number: 1275-21220-226-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 07, 2008
End Date: May 06, 2013

Objective:
Serve as the information system for the documentation of plant, insect, animal, and microbial germplasm maintained by the U.S. National Genetic Resources program. Operate and enhance existing databases, create and improve linkages to other genetic resources databases, and share information and technology on documentation of genetic resources collections.

Approach:
Support will be provided to the existing GRIN databases that serve the National Genetic Resources Program to ensure that they are functional and relevant to the needs of collection managers and curators and to the germplasm user community. Upgrades will be made to the highly specialized application software, as appropriate, to ensure that it remains compatible with hardware upgrades and that it meets the requirements for germplasm maintenance and documentation and information exchange. Appropriate measures will be taken to ensure security of the databases and the data they contain. Develop the next version of the GRIN software as a scalable portable system capable of being transfered to other genebanks in addition to allowing greater interoperability between genetic resources and biodiversity databases.