Genomes OnLine Database
The Genomes OnLine Database is a web-based resource for comprehensive information regarding genome and metagenome sequencing projects, and their associated metadata, around the world. Since 2011, the GOLD database has been run by the DOE Joint Genome Institute
The GOLD database was created in 1997; the first version of the database contained information for 350 sequencing projects, of which 48 had been completely sequenced with their analyses published.
GOLD v.5 was released on 28 May 2014., the GOLD database contains information for 67,879 genome sequencing projects, of which 7,210 have been completed. Besides the DOE JGI, the three biggest contributors to GOLD are the Broad Institute, the J. Craig Venter Institute and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
In order to facilitate comparative analysis between the information in GOLD and other databases, GOLD supports the minimum information standards metadata specifications recommended by the Genomic Standards Consortium, in particular, the MIxS specification. GOLD also allows the annotation of genomes or metagenomes using the DOE JGI Integrated Microbial Genomes System and has links to the BioMed Central journal Standards in Genomic Sciences, allowing genomic data to be published.
