Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!uunet!bionet!rutgers!orstcs!bionette!kramerj
From: kramerj@bionette.CS.ORST.EDU (Jack Kramer - CMBL)
Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.genbank
Subject: Re: genbank update cycle and submitted data lag time
Message-ID: <7698@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU>
Date: 2 Dec 88 22:12:47 GMT
References: <8811201524.AA03358@intron.lanl.gov>
Sender: usenet@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU
Reply-To: kramerj@bionette.UUCP (Jack Kramer - CMBL)
Organization: Oregon State University - CMBL
Lines: 28

I have been working with many molecular biologists for several years doing
much of their computer work. I often get complaints on the interval of
time between the publication of a paper and inclusion of a contained
sequence in the database.  Most often, when I ask if they submitted the
sequence to the database,  the response is that they didn't have time to
fill out the form or didn't think it was necessary.  "It was published,
why shouldn't everyone rush to take care of this most important sequence?"

I think this may be the most common reason for the gap between publication
and availability.  Both Dave and Christian were too kind to scold complainers
in this class.  The original publication does not always have all the
information that should be included in the database.  Even when it does,
it can take an unreasonable amount of time to decipher many of the papers.
Prompt submission of all the required data directly to the correct location
would probably alleviate any rational basis for dissatisfaction with the 
delays.

I would like to relay the thanks from several hundred biologists at
Oregon State University, who have benefited from the excellent work that
has been and is being done by the molecular database staffs.  Handling 
only the volume of data submitted properly, I'm sure calls for much effort
beyond the normal.  And then much is done even beyond that.  

THANKS!!!!!!

Jack Kramer
Computational Molecular Biology Laboratory
Oregon State University