Public Access to the USDA, ARS, USMARC Genome Database
 
 
It is desirable that markers be placed on publicly available linkage
maps as soon as possible;  however, publication rights of scientists
developing markers must be protected.  The MARC genome database will
restrict data access as outlined below to accomplish both objectives.
 
Each marker in the database will have associated with it two attributes
(fields) called CURATOR and PUBLIC MARKER that will be used to control
access to data.  CURATOR will be the "owner" or "developer" of the
marker.  (Markers will be group owned by the laboratory in which they
are developed.).  The attribute PUBLIC MARKER will have the value Y or N
depending on whether or not the marker has been published.  The curator
of the marker will decide when a marker shall become public.  It is
expected that a marker will become public when it is published.
 
A user of the database will have access to all information on markers
that are public and markers for which he/she is the curator.
Information on other non-public markers that relates to the identity,
ownership, or development of the marker will be restricted.  This
includes the marker name, curator of the marker, type of marker, and all
information needed to develop the marker such as primer sequences and
clone sequence.
 
Implications and consequences:
 
 - Once genotypic data for a marker have been entered, the data will
be accessible to all users for linkage analysis, including data on
unpublished markers. Unpublished, or non-public, markers will be
designated on the maps only by their arbitrary MARKER NUMBER, eg. 343.
Again, it will not be possible to link this data back to marker name,
primer sequences, and other background information.
 
 - Outside users of the database will be able to extract data and do
their own linkage analyses.
 
 
A feature of the database is a table (shell) for a consensus map.
If they desire, each  NAGRP specie  committee can submit and monitor
the consensus map.  We can store the map as provided by a consensus
of the NAGPR specie committee and can make changes in the consensus
map at the direction of the committee chairman/coordinator.
 
The database will allow a user to request information on an unpublished
marker from the marker's curator without the curator's identity being
revealed.   For example, user X could make a request for information for
unpublished marker 822 and submit a statement of what he/she is
interested in and why he/she is interested in marker 822.  The database
would send an email message to the curator of marker 822 informing
him/her that Dr. X of email address ....@.......... is interested in
marker 822 and attaching Dr. X's statement of interest.  The curator of
the marker could then contact Dr. X if interested in providing the
information or in collaborating with Dr. X.