Biocurating: Conserving Live Data
Today, biology studies the living, notably via genetic information. Coded sequences and their annotations are the primary material of research laboratories. It is therefore primordial to bring this information together in an easily accessible database. We must convince scientists to communicate their results with the community, nourishing this central tool, without necessarily publishing these results in a journal.
This is the work that is carried out by the biocurator who aggregates and evangelizes for a given species. This new profession consists of working with specialists from other domains to establish a standard format. This effort of harmonization guarantees the longevity of this information and its growing use. Life science data have become strategic material in two decades; their administration has become an essential job. Especially if we take into account the increase of synthetic biology that aims to artificially create sequences.
Art-Science Think Tank: Friday, June 14