donorgenome

Donorgenome is a term used to describe the complete genetic material derived from a human donor, typically obtained through sequencing of a donor's germline DNA. It is used in contexts such as biobanking, organ transplantation studies, and donor-recipient research. The concept is not standardized, and different projects may define it differently, sometimes distinguishing between the donor's germline genome and any sequenced somatic or cell-line derived material.

A donorgenome generally includes the donor's genome sequence, catalogued variants (single-nucleotide changes, insertions, deletions, copy-number variations), and can be linked to metadata such as age, sex, ancestry, and health history under consent terms.

In transplantation research, donor genomes can inform immune-genetic analyses in addition to, or to complement, HLA typing. In genomics research, donor genomes enable studies of genetic diversity, disease associations, pharmacogenomics, and population history. In biobanking, donor genomes may be stored with samples to facilitate future queries, with privacy safeguards.

Ethical and privacy considerations are central to the handling of donorgenomes. Because donor genomes can reveal sensitive information, governance includes consent, de-identification, controlled access, and data use limitations. Privacy-preserving methods and governance policies aim to minimize re-identification risk while enabling scientific use.

Limitations and challenges include incomplete genome coverage in some datasets, data linkage across studies, potential confusion with transcriptomic or epigenetic data, and evolving consent status. Ongoing developments in data standards, governance frameworks, and sequencing technologies affect how donorgenomes are collected, stored, and shared.