Genebanks in the post-genomic age: Emerging roles and anticipated uses

Genebanks assemble, preserve and distribute genetic resources that are critical for research on biological diversity in a changing world. Traditional users of genebanks for crop improvement and rare specimen preservation are now joined by scientists from increasingly diverse disciplines who need access to broad collections of quality-assured materials with good physical integrity plus accurate phenotypic, genotypic, ecological and provenance data. The changing role of genebanks requires a critical evaluation of the genebanking process to ensure that different conservation targets (ranging from biological communities to transcription elements) are adequately captured and maintained ex situ and made available in a useful form. To meet the needs of diverse users, genebanks require better methods to preserve viability, greater emphasis on wild-collected germplasm and enhanced interoperability of databases among various collections-based institutions. The impact of genebanks is contingent on our ability to anticipate future uses and applications of genetic resources in the broadest context.