by Mechas
Microbiologists regularly use sequence data without giving it much thought. What will surprise many scientists is that its use is now being hotly debated in international scenarios such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Sequence data, also known as digital sequence information or DSI, refers to digital data derived from biological material. In its simplest definition, it encompasses sequences obtained from nucleic acids. However, an exact definition is still being debated given that it can also cover information derived from genomic data, like proteins and metabolites.
Sequence data is, and has been for quite some time, a cornerstone of both basic and applied biological research. It is also a resource for the development of commercial products in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and agricultural industries. Which is why these discussions are taking place. If DSI serves as the basis for commercial products, how should potential profits be distributed? International negotiators and policymakers recognize that regulating use and access to DSI could negatively impact science, but they also hope it can provide much-needed revenue for conservation of biodiversity, one of the main goals of the CBD.
Fig. 1. The image shows DSI from Brazil is used by 111 countries, while scientists in Brazil use DSI from 153 countries. Source. Frontispiece: Image of DNA Analysis Research. Source
DSI is a common currency in scientific research. It is produced globally and accessed by millions of scientists daily in a complex and continual flow of information essential to advance knowledge (Fig. 1). The open-access and interconnected sequence databases that enable this information sharing are available thanks to the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration. However, pinpointing the exact origin of a sequence can prove difficult. As is identifying users and specific sequences that serve as bases for commercial products. This means that a system of tracking and tracing will prove costly and challenging to implement. Innovative uses of DSI also introduce new complications. Artificial intelligence for example can lead to the design of new molecules and synthetic biology can patch up multiple snippets of information and generate sequences that are not themselves known to exist in nature.
The discussions are lengthy and not always easy to follow, given the international jargon used by negotiators. The DSI Scientific Network aims to bridge the worlds of policy and science. This network, composed of scientists from different geographical locations, provides scientific input for policy discussions that are relevant to scientific research.
Recent decisions revolve around rules for access to DSI and how to capture and share the benefits—both monetary and non-monetary—derived from its use. An agreement adopted at the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (COP15) in 2022 outlines a path for establishing a global "multilateral system" that would be simpler to implement. This system takes into account the need for fair and equitable sharing of any benefits, while respecting the interests of local communities, indigenous peoples, and governments, as well as their sovereignty over genetic resources.
Restrictions to DSI access could signify additional economic burdens to researchers, especially in lower-income nations, and negatively impact scientific advancement and innovation. An alternative to access paywalls considers collecting monetary benefits from downstream commercial products, which sounds feasible but requires clear and efficient identification of such products, hopefully emphasizing incentives rather than penalties. In addition, there must be some agreement on how to disburse potential funds and channel resources for the conservation of biodiversity.
DSI is becoming a hot issue of debate and will continue to be so for some time. Be prepared for policy discussions on data governance and, more importantly, the decisions that may be taken during the next COP16 in October 2024. The use of DSI appears daunting to many non-scientists, but to me finding convergence and negotiating global DSI use is more challenging. It requires identifying common ground and defining rules among nations and stakeholders with very diverse interests to find a solution that incentivizes both science and discovery while providing funds for biodiversity. Now that is complexity.
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