Quality Control for Distribution
Quality Control for Distribution
We distribute (1) Individual Arabidopsis seeds, (2) Arabidopsis seed pool sets, (3) cDNA/EST clones, (4) Plant cultured cells, (5) Brachypodium distachyon seeds and(6) Plant binary vector. Each product is tested in order to ensure the reproducibility of experimental results.
(1) Individual Arabidopsis seeds
Seeds are sealed in plastic tubes and shipped by registered airmail.
Information on genotype and phenotype data provided by the depositor/developer is shown in the web catalog.
Quality Test in RIKEN BRC:
- Germination ratio of seeds (if more than 3 years has passed since last examination)
- Confirmation of insertion site (transposon-tagged line) or DNA sequence of genes (over-expresser/anti-sense mutant)
- Genotyping with SSR marker (when new lot of natural accession is generated)
Not Performed:
- Full length nucleotide sequencing of insert DNA in transgenic lines
(2) Arabidopsis seed pool sets
Pooled seeds are sealed in plastic tubes and shipped by registered airmail.
Information on genotype and phenotype data provided by the depositor/developer is shown in the web catalog.
Quality Test in RIKEN BRC:
- Germination ratio of seeds (if more than 3 years has passed since last examination)
Not Performed:
- Analysis of insertion site and sequence of transgenic lines
DNA materials are sealed in plastic tubes and shipped by registered airmail.
Information on nucleotide sequence and other properties obtained by the depositor/developer is shown in the web catalog.
Quality Test in RIKEN BRC:
- Sequencing of 5′- and/or 3′-end of insert DNA
Not Performed:
- Full length nucleotide sequencing of insert DNA
Plant cultured cells are shipped in plastic containers by a worldwide carrier.
Information on maintenance procedure, insert DNA (if any) and other properties provided by the depositor/developer is shown in the web catalog.
Quality Test in RIKEN BRC:
- Genotyping of cells to confirm their origin species (once every year)
- Analysis of insert DNA (if any, once every year)
Not Performed:
- Characterization of biosynthetic ability of target materials (if any)
(5) Brachypodium distachyon seeds
Seeds of Brachypodium distachyon are sealed in plastic tubes and shipped by registered airmail.
Quality Test in RIKEN BRC:
- Germination ratio of seeds (if more than 3 years has passed since last examination)
Not Performed:
- Genotyping of seeds
(6) Plant binary vector
Quality Test in RIKEN BRC:
- Confirmation of selection marker
- Confirmation of recombination site sequence
Not Performed:
- Full-length nucleotide sequencing
- Test of transformation efficiency
- Protein production
- Promoter activity, etc.
For Depositor
Our whole activities depend on the deposit of plant materials and associated information by scientific community. We greatly appreciate all depositors/developers for your contribution.
As the plants are living organisms, genetic drift, mutation, contamination and infection by microorganisms and insects can occur during propagation and should be considered as inevitable events, even though one does best to prevent them to occur. In addition, because of sophistication and complication in experimental systems and intellectual property right issues regarding plant resources, it has become very difficult for any scientist to grasp accurate information. These unintended and undesirable defects or mistakes in the quality of plant resources and associated information should not become causes for a lawsuit by users or third parties against scientists who have generously deposited their resources. With this notion, RIKEN BRC recently revised its Materials Transfer Agreements (MTAs) for Distribution, by adding the indemnification clause in Articles 9 and 10 of the MTA for non-profit academic use or Articles 10 and 11 of the MTA for profit use. As legal obstacles are removed, we would like to ask scientific community for active deposition of plant resources. At the same time, to improve the integrity of science using plant resources, we would like to ask all depositors for several points described below regarding depositing plant resources and information.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Quality Control at Deposition
Experimental Plant Division performs quality control (QC) by genetic and phenotypic tests based on resource information provided by the Depositor to ensure the reproducibility of the experimental results.
To all depositors, we would like to ask for providing us the manuscripts that include precise information to ensure the reproducibility of experimental results. If such information is missing in the manuscripts, please describe it in the deposition form.
Our division is happy to assists you for the information provision. Please contact us (plant.brc@riken.jp) for any assistance. If there is any discrepancy between your information and our test results, we will inform you the issue. When necessary, we may ask correction of information or resending the plants.
▾Transgenic lines
Information requested: primer sequence for genotyping, sequence information of vectors and transgenes used to generate genetically-modified plants, generation of deposited seeds after the transformation event, and etc.
Quality test performed (for those materials distributed as independent lines):
- Germination test
- PCR analysis for characterizing zygosity
- Confirmation of insertion site (KO mutant) or DNA sequence of transgene(s) (over-expresser/anti-sense mutant)
NOT performed
- Characterization of whole sequences of insert DNA
▾Non-GM mutant lines
Information requested: procedure for introducing mutations, sequence information of mutated genes and primers used to confirm the mutation, photo images to show mutant phenotypes, and etc.
Quality test performed (for those materials distributed as independent lines):
- Germination test
- Genetic or phenotypic analysis for characterizing zygosity
- Confirmation of mutation site(s)
NOT performed
- Phenotypic characterization that requires specific condition and/or instrument
- Detection of mutations NOT reported by the depositor
▾Natural accessions and related species
Information requested: sampling information (date, location, number of plants and/or seeds collected, and etc.), generation of deposited seeds after the collection, protocols and conditions to grow plants, photo images to show typical phenotypes, and etc.
Quality test performed:
- Germination test
- Phenotypic characterization during cultivation
- Genetic characterization (SSR or SNP analysis, or sequencing of specific area of genome)
NOT performed
- Phenotypic characterization that requires specific condition and/or instrument
- Sequencing of whole genome
▾Plant DNA
Information requested: characters of DNA (name of origin species, host organisms, and vectors,), protocols to isolate clones, nucleotide sequences of insert DNA and primers used for sequencing, and etc.
Quality test performed:
- Growth test (host cell)
- Characterization of end-sequences of clones
NOT performed
- Sequencing of whole insert
▾Plant cultured cells
Information requested: name of origin species, protocols to establish and maintain cells, and etc. (for transgenic cells, please add transformation protocol, nucleotide sequences of insert DNA and primers)
Quality test performed:
- Growth test
- Genetic characterization of origin plant species (sequencing of specific area of genome)
- Sequencing of transgenes (for transgenic cells only)
NOT performed
- Characterization of polyploidy
- Characterization of productivity of specific materials
