genbanker

GenBank is a comprehensive public database of nucleotide sequences and their annotations, maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A genbanker is an informal term used to refer to a person who works with GenBank data—either by submitting sequences, curating annotations, or using the data for research, education, or software development. The word is not an official designation and its meaning can vary between communities or projects.

In practice, genbankers include a range of roles. Submitting researchers contribute sequences and metadata to GenBank, often using submission tools or pipelines to provide accurate organism names, features, publications, and provenance. Data curators and annotation specialists may review or refine entries to improve consistency and utility. Researchers, bioinformaticians, and developers who rely on GenBank data for analyses, database integration, or tool development are also commonly described as genbankers in informal discourse.

GenBank entries are identified by accession numbers and versions, and data can be accessed through NCBI’s Entrez system and download portals. Submissions may involve tools such as BankIt or Sequin, and may require formatting and verification of sequence quality and annotations. The term encapsulates a broad community centered on the use and stewardship of GenBank data rather than a single job title or formal role.

Overall, genbankers contribute to the growth, accuracy, and accessibility of GenBank, supporting a wide spectrum of genomic research and bioinformatics activities.