|
|
# GG-CE Overview
|
|
|
|
|
|
###### *What is GRIN-Global Community Edition?*
|
|
|
|
|
|
Genebanks safeguard and make available the genetic diversity of our food crops. This is a critically important endeavor, but maintaining and sharing plant materials – seeds, tissues in test tubes etc. – alone is not enough. Beyond the cold rooms and the laboratories, the greenhouses and the regeneration fields, there is a wealth of information that accompanies each sample. Only accurate and current information enables genebank staff to do their work effectively and efficiently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
This information includes everything from where and when a seed was collected to who requested and received samples, when and where the material was regenerated, and what is its current health status. But keeping track of this breadth of information is no easy feat. The cost and technical challenges of developing and maintaining a genebank management and information system can be daunting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
# GRIN-Global Community Edition
|
|
|
|
|
|
**GRIN-Global Community Edition** (GG-CE) is a freely accessible, open-source software solution, designed for genebanks to store and manage data associated with plant genetic resources in their collections. GG-CE provides the genebank with current information about each sample in the collection, allowing for better allocation of their limited resources, and prioritization of activities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
![GG-CE](images/collage1.png)
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE is an evolution of the original GRIN-Global system, which is based on the classic Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN) software. GG-CE builds on decades of experience in genebank database design of GRIN-Global and therefore features a **suitably designed and fully developed database** that addresses most genebanks’ data requirements. It provides a complete genebank inventory management solution.
|
|
|
GG-CE is an evolution of the original GRIN-Global system, which is based on the classic Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN) software. GG-CE builds on decades of experience in genebank database design of GRIN-Global and therefore features a **suitably designed and fully developed database** that addresses most genebanks’ data requirements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
# Our mission
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE aims to provide a complete genebank inventory management solution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE enables genebank staff to **capture and make use of data across all genebank operations**, from acquisition, to management, monitoring, and evaluation of material in the collection, and its eventual distribution to clients. It provides tools that enable genebank technicians to capture data as early as possible, usually alongside routine genebank operations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
![collage2](images/collage2.png)
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Inventory management
|
|
|
# Inventory management
|
|
|
|
|
|
Genebank collection management primarily deals with what, in what form, how much, and where plant genetic resources **are physically** in the genebank. We refer to this as **Inventory management**. The *documentation* about the material origin, performance and characteristics is crucial for effective utilization of PGR, and for the purposes of explaining GG-CE that is described below in the *Passport and trait data* section.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE always maintains the current, up-to-date information about physical material that is stored as seed, *in vitro*, in the field, etc. This database mirrors the actual status of each individual seed packet, cryo tube or plant in the field. GG-CE provides tools for technicians to update the database as they go about their daily work in the genebank: from acquisition of new material, viability testing, to distribution of material to users.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Monitoring the collection
|
|
|
# Monitoring the collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
The biological material in genebank collections **ages with time** and therefore requires routine monitoring so that appropriate actions are taken to keep sufficient amounts of material alive and healthy. Planning and prioritizing of monitoring activities relies on having access to the most recent and current information about collection state.
|
|
|
|
... | ... | @@ -32,7 +35,7 @@ GG-CE provides tools that guide and support technicians during their routine ope |
|
|
|
|
|
By reducing the time between data generation and its recording in the database, data validation and curation is simplified and improved. GG-CE enhances the validity and correctness of viability data. The availability of current, valid and correct data in GG-CE allows genebanks to prioritize and plan the activities required to keep the collection healthy, available and, most importantly, alive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Barcoding the collection
|
|
|
# Barcoding the collection
|
|
|
|
|
|
Material is added to the collection through acquisition, rejuvenation or regeneration, while distribution will reduce the quantity on hand when samples are sent to users. GG-CE relies on barcoding to uniquely identify each lot/batch/packet of material stored in the genebank.
|
|
|
|
... | ... | @@ -40,7 +43,7 @@ Use of barcoding for every physical lot (inventory in GG parlance) in the geneba |
|
|
|
|
|
Barcoding is essential for modern-day data management and GG-CE comes with best-practice **label templates, including barcodes** ready for use. GG-CE supports barcode scanning on mobiles, tablets and desktops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Passport, trait and marker data
|
|
|
# Passport, trait and marker data
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accession **passport data** is critical for any collection. The time gap between receiving the material and recording the passport data in the database is the primary reason for the low level of detail of documentation of material in the genebank, since material is often given a new identifier.
|
|
|
|
... | ... | @@ -52,31 +55,42 @@ GRIN-Global and GG-CE both support recording of trait and marker definitions and |
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE provides the **MCPD view** of accession data and also allows for direct publishing of accession data to Genesys.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Distribution of material
|
|
|
# Distribution of material
|
|
|
|
|
|
Making healthy and viable plant material available to clients is a key objective of any genebank. GG-CE allows for recording incoming requests for material from both external clients (for distribution) and internal use (for regeneration, monitoring, etc.) and supports technicians in fulfilling these requests. Maintaining a database of request records allows for tracking past distributions, understanding your clients and monitoring trends of which types of materials are requested, when, and by whom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Genesys is commonly used to provide public access to accession data and enables users to request genebank material online. GG-CE seamlessly integrates with Genesys. It retrieves and displays request information and allows the genebank to queue requests from Genesys into the pipeline.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## How is GG-CE different from GRIN-Global
|
|
|
# How is GG-CE different from GRIN-Global
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Database
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE uses the GRIN-Global database model and MSSQL Server remains the preferred database engine. The data model is updated with community extensions. GG-CE is backwards compatible with existing GRIN-Global databases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unlike the original GRIN-Global (GG), GG-CE provides a web interface and genebank staff can access and interact with GG-CE without installation of additional software on desktops, tablets and mobiles. The GG Curator Tool requires a Windows operating system, making it difficult to use GG on macOS or Linux, and impossible on mobiles and tablets without custom app development.
|
|
|
## Curator Tool
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE provides specialized user interfaces for different areas of genebank operations and provides specialized tools for each activity area in a genebank -- from updating passport data, inventory management, seed viability, to managing the distribution of material to clients. GG-CE provides integrated printing of barcode labels directly from the web interface. With GG, most of such functionality requires development of “wizards”.
|
|
|
GG-CE provides a web interface and genebank staff can access and interact with GG-CE without installation of additional software on desktops, tablets and mobiles across different operating systems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Because the Curator Tool allows for convenient importing of bulk data and updating of large numbers of records, which are common tasks for any genebank data manager, only the data manager may want to install and use the Curator Tool (CT) with GG-CE. All other genebank staff should use the GG-CE Web application on their mobiles and desktops.
|
|
|
The **Curator Tool** allows for convenient importing of bulk data and updating of large numbers of records, which are common tasks for any genebank data manager, only the data manager may want to install and use the Curator Tool with GG-CE. All other genebank staff should use the GG-CE Web application on their mobiles and desktops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GG-CE provides tailored user interfaces (replacing **Wizards**) for different areas of genebank operations and provides specialized tools for each activity area in a genebank: from updating passport data, inventory management, seed viability, to managing the distribution of material to clients. GG-CE provides integrated printing of barcode labels directly from the web interface.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## App development
|
|
|
|
|
|
The GG-CE Server implements JSON and SOAP API endpoints that provide the business logic in support of genebank operations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
![server-client](images/server-client.png)
|
|
|
|
|
|
The GG-CE Server implements JSON and SOAP API endpoints that provide the business logic in support of genebank operations. The JSON API is preferred and is used in all new client applications. The SOAP API is provided for backward compatibility with the original GRIN-Global, allowing for use of the **Curator Tool** and any other software that uses the GG SOAP protocol.
|
|
|
The JSON API is preferred and is used in all new client applications. The SOAP API is provided for backward compatibility with the original GRIN-Global, allowing for use of the Curator Tool and other software that uses the GG SOAP protocol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The original GG server is an ASP.Net web application that requires a Windows Server and IIS. GG-CE components, on the other hand, are packaged as **Docker images** and designed for container deployment on Windows, Linux and macOS hosts. There is no “installer”, no Windows registry entries, and no pollution of the host system with software dependencies.
|
|
|
## Public Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
See [Installation Guide](../installation/Installation) for more information.
|
|
|
GG-CE is intended for internal management of genebank data. It is commonly hosted and managed by IT departments on the internal protected network and not directly accessible from the Internet. A *Public Website* is not bundled with GG-CE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Trying out GG-CE
|
|
|
A public website may be developed using GG-CE APIs. [Embedded Genesys](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@genesys-pgr/ui-embedded) offers a convenient alternative.
|
|
|
|
|
|
**GG-CE Test Environment** is available at[ https://demo.ggce.genebanks.org](https://demo.ggce.genebanks.org/). Please contact us at [helpdesk@grin-global.org](mailto:helpdesk@grin-global.org) to request access to the Demo GG-CE!
|
|
|
## Server environment
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please explore https://gitlab.croptrust.org/grin-global/support for documentation and assistance.
|
|
|
The original GG server is an .Net web application that requires a Windows Server and IIS. GG-CE components, on the other hand, are packaged as **Docker images** and designed for container deployment on Windows, Linux and macOS hosts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
See [Installation Guide](../installation/Installation) for more information. |