At the heart of the MIGS specification is a call for all genomes and metagenomes to be reported with geographic location (lat/long). We were therefore very pleased to see a Nature Editorial calling for ALL biological samples to be tagged with lat/long. The GSC responded with a Nature Correspondence to underscore our collaborative interest in seeing all molecules (in particular genomes, metagenomes and phylogenetic markers like 16S/18S ribosomal RNA genes) placed into a geospatial framework. Location of isolation is increasingly of relevance as an informative piece of contextual data for the interpretation of collections of sequences. In addition to the GSC, the Correspondence was signed by the INSDC, CBOL, ICoMM, and EnvO
The original Editorial can be found here: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7191/full/453002a.html
Our response is here (see bottom of article for all signatories including the GSC): http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v453/n7198/full/453978b.html
Both pieces are available as free content and can be accessed without a subscription to Nature.
The full list of Signatories on the Correspondence can be seen here.
