Most organizations dealing with genetic resources will have part or all of their germplasm documentation available in electronic form. The exchange of data between these organizations is of great importance to make effective and efficient use of these genetic resources. The majority of computerized documentation systems in operation at genebanks will have facilities built-in that allow them to import and export data in a variety of data formats thereby facilitating the physical exchange of data between different information systems. These data formats could be based on proprietary databases or spreadsheet data formats or on a straightforward text based format such as ASCII, which is the most commonly acceptable form. In the exchange of data, it is essential that the actual data be always accompanied by a data dictionary that enables the recipients to interpret the data correctly. Usually data and data dictionary are exchanged as two separate files.

The Data Interchange Protocol (DIP) is a protocol that has been developed which integrates data and data dictionary in a single file, thereby eliminating the risk that these two can be separated. The DIP is based on a fixed length ASCII file format that is neither software nor hardware dependent. Like any ASCII based format, it is suitable to exchange alphanumerical data that constitutes the majority of data on genetic resources. It is not suitable to exchange data types such as text containing formatting codes or binary data types. Although data exchange using the DIP format requires customized procedures to download and upload the data, the intermediate data format is completely autonomous and can be accessed using virtually any type of software on virtually any type of computer.

The delivery of information in a common format will encourage genebanks to participate in central/crop databases and electronic catalogues. The compilation of data from multiple sources in central crop databases will further be facilitated when standardization of the actual data content is progressively applied such as those promoted by IPGRI through its crop descriptor lists and multi-crop passport descriptors. The consistent documentation of common descriptors for germplasm accessions. e.g. through the use of standard coding schemes, will facilitate the analysis of available germplasm and enhance the efficient and effective conservation and use of these resources.

Although DIP is certainly not the only way to exchange data on genetic resources, it provides a protocol for data exchange that is autonomous, i.e. integrates data and data dictionary, and it is accessible through virtually any type of computing platform.

Person to contact
Paul Quek
Scientist, Documentation/Information
IPGRI Regional Office for Asia, the Pacific and Oceania
P.O. Box 236, UPM Post Office
43400 Serdang, MALAYSIA
Email: p.quek@cgiar.org

Download DIP Manual (in PDF format 72KB)