GENDAT

GENDAT is a term used in genetics and bioinformatics to describe collections of genetic data. It is not a single standardized format, but a label for data assets that combine genotype or sequence information with sample metadata and study context. In practice, gendats may include genotype calls for many individuals across variants, along with demographic, phenotypic, and provenance information.

Data models for gendats often separate genotype data from metadata. The genotype component typically includes sample IDs, variant identifiers (chromosome, position, reference and alternate alleles) and genotype calls or dosages. Metadata may cover sex, ancestry, phenotype, study design, and data provenance. Some implementations add quality scores, imputation details, and processing history.

GENDAT implementations vary in format. Common storage forms include CSV/TSV tables, standardized formats like VCF, PLINK binary formats, or hierarchical data formats (HDF5), with conversion tools to support interoperability. Because it lacks universal standardization, researchers frequently convert data between gendats and analysis tools.

Applications include population genetics analyses, GWAS workflows, imputation, phasing, and cross-study meta-analyses. GENDATs serve in data sharing environments, repositories, and collaborative studies where consistent representation of genetic data and metadata is essential.

Ethical considerations, access controls, and data governance are central to gendats, due to the sensitive nature of genetic and phenotypic information. Proper de-identification, consent management, and compliance with data-use policies are common requirements.

See also: VCF, PLINK, GWAS, imputation, phasing.