National Genetic Information Base

Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies (FNTP)

• Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Genetic Technologies (FNTP)

2024: Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Education and Science to create a national database of genetic information

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree that instructed the Ministry of Education and Science to create a national database of genetic information. The corresponding document was published on February 16, 2024.

According to the decree, the Ministry of Education and Science must develop and commission the National Database of Genetic Information by September 1, 2025, the purpose of which is to ensure national security, protection of the life and health of Russians, as well as sovereignty in the storage and use of genetic data, is specified in the document.

Pexels

According to the idea of ​ ​ the authors of the initiative, it will have to ensure the exchange of information contained in the system between government agencies and owners of genetic data, which can be legal entities and individuals, when interacting in genetic engineering activities. The system will store both biological samples of wildlife, plants and animals, genes of especially dangerous viruses, and personal genetic data of humans. The system is expected to be open.

According to the government decree, the national research center "Kurchatov Institute" is responsible for ensuring the operation of the system. Earlier, Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center, said that the creation of a unified national database of genetic information is extremely important for the development of personalized medicine in Russia. The scientist explained that knowledge of the genome allows the development of agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals and medicine.

Firstly, it is possible to prevent the disease in a preventive way, and secondly, to predict which diseases can develop. And medicine will be focused on preserving the health of a particular person at the genetic level. In fact, this is an explosion, - said Kovalchuk.

Government of the Russian Federation Resolution of January 31, 2024 No. 87

2023

A single DNA base helped in the investigation of 7,300 crimes in Russia

In 2023, a single DNA base in Russia helped police officers investigate approximately 7,300 crimes. This is 20% more compared to the previous year, as stated in the data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, published in early March 2024.

According to "," Interfax referring to the statements of the head of the Forensic Center (ECC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, Police Lieutenant General Vadim Kazmin, during the investigation of crimes, law enforcement agencies actively use DNA analysis, as well as digital technologies for collecting and processing information. It is also used 3D printing to create volume models of the objects under study. For inspections of large areas, large facilities located in hard-to-reach places or in dangerous areas, are actively involved. drones

Unsplash

In the field of DNA research, opportunities are not limited to identifying the perpetrator. The corresponding database allows for identification of missing persons, as well as identification of the identity of the discovered remains in case of DNA of close relatives. DNA laboratories are formed in new territories. These, in particular, are two new sites in the Donbass. In March and October 2023, DNA laboratories were put into operation in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is the developer and chief operator of the federal database of genomic information (FBDGI). These are primarily genotypes of established persons subject to mandatory state genomic registration. Until 2023, this category included only persons convicted and serving sentences in the form of imprisonment for committing grave and especially grave crimes, crimes against sexual inviolability and sexual freedom. In 2023, federal legislation was amended to expand this list at the expense of persons sentenced to imprisonment, as well as suspects and accused of committing crimes.

As a result, the information array of the federal base has significantly increased, which had a positive effect on the effectiveness of its use by investigative and operational units. In 2023, as a result of the inspections, more than 7.3 thousand matches were established with traces seized from the places of unsolved crimes, which is almost 20% higher than in 2022, says Kazmin.[1]

A new draft resolution on the national database of genetic information has been published

At the end of September 2023 , the Ministry of Education and Science published for public discussion a new draft resolution on the state information system in the field of genetic information "National Genetic Information Base" (GIS NBGI)^[2]

This is the second version of the document. The first option was presented in May 2022. Then the creation and commissioning of the GIS was entrusted to the FGBU Research Center "Kurchatov Institute." In the new version of the draft resolution, these functions are assigned to the Ministry of Education and Science. At the same time, the Kurchatov Institute, as before, is assigned the role of the NBGI GIS operator.

Commissioning of the system is scheduled for September 1, 2024

The regulation on the NBGI GIS has undergone a large-scale revision and is actually set out in a new version. For example, it sets out in more detail the powers of the Ministry of Education and Science as the customer of the system, and the powers of the system operator.

The number of tasks of the NBGI GIS has also increased. They include:

• Storage of genetic information across a variety of bio-species, including plants, animals, wildlife microorganisms and ecosystem metagenomes, plants and animals for agriculture, microorganisms for industry, viruses excluding personified human genetic data, as well as particularly dangerous pathogens and viruses;
• certification (annotation) of biosimilars;
• providing information security on the basis of domestic developments in the transfer, processing and storage of data, guaranteeing the protection of the interests of the individual, business and the state;
• search for genetic information (by metadata and homology);
• classification of genetic information;
• providing visualization and analysis of genetic data in an integrated genomic browser;
• Providing access to high-performance and cloud computing infrastructure for processing and analyzing genetic data
• Enabling the design of analysis tools
• processing of genetic information using machine learning technologies;
• providing a communication environment for professional communities;
• ensuring the publication of scientific articles;
• integration with departmental systems in terms of providing access to genetic data;
• accumulation of data obtained during the implementation of the federal scientific and technical program for the development of genetic technologies for 2019-2030.

The explanatory note to the new draft resolution was supplemented with a mention of biosafety problems. It is assumed to multiply the volume of generated, accumulated, processed and used genetic information. As a result of the implementation of projects for the digitization of gene pools of strategic crops, industrial microorganisms, as well as promising projects in the field of medicine, biodiversity and solving biosafety problems, there is a need for centralized storage and processing of genetic information, the document says.

Centralized work with genetic information will allow processing information using big data technology, machine learning technologies and artificial intelligence, the explanatory note also says.

The period by which it is necessary to ensure the commissioning of the system remained the same - until September 1, 2024. And the amount of budgetary allocations for the creation of an information system, which the Ministry of Finance should provide, remained the same - 4,714,7 million rubles. Of these, 497.6 million - in 2023, 2,044,1 million rubles in 2024, 2,173,0 million rubles in 2025 as part of the federal project "Development of infrastructure for scientific research and training of personnel" of the national project "Science and Universities."

In June 2023, the Ministry of Education and Science presented a report on the implementation of the department's activity plan in 2022 and tasks for 2023. It says that the concept of creating the NBGI GIS has already been developed, agreed with the interested FFIVs, a terms of reference, a draft (technical) design and the first stage of the layout of the Report of^[3] Science^[4].

The first stage of the layout of the NBGI GIS was successfully tested by specialists from the Kurchatov Genomic Center Center for World-Class Genomic Research, and technical solutions were confirmed. Currently, genetic information on more than 2,000 studied biosimilars for storing and analyzing genetic information, as a source of reference data and a technological tool for processing genetic information, has been uploaded to the NBGI GIS mock-up, "the Ministry of Education and Science said in a report.

Also, by June, work was carried out to identify the Kurchatov Institute Research Center as the chief manager of budget funds and to amend the federal project "Development of Infrastructure for Scientific Research and Personnel Training" NP "Science and Universities" in terms of consolidating the event on the creation of GIS NBGI.

GIS " National Genetic Information Base" is being created in Russia

At the end of May 2023, it became known about the creation in Russia of a state information system in the field of genetic information "National Genetic Information Base" (GIS NBGI). The implementation of the corresponding project was taken up by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

According to D-Russia, citing an explanatory note to the draft resolution, the NBGI GIS will be used to store and use genetic data, including the development of data storage and transmission formats, related search programs and software and hardware for storing and processing genetic information. It is assumed that the platform will ensure the collection, storage, use and transfer of the following genetic information in standard global formats:

• primary nucleotide sequence data (DNA and RNA) obtained during sequencing;
• analyzed DNA and RNA sequences obtained during processing of primary data;
• metadata describing the features of the deposited nucleic acid sequences (including the identifier of the dataset, characteristics and parameters of plants, animals, microorganisms, communication identifiers with other information systems, including medical ones;
• model and experimental data on the primary and secondary structure of proteins obtained during the analysis of nucleotide sequences;
• experimental data on the three-dimensional structure of proteins and their complexes.

GIS "National Genetic Information Base" is being created in Russia

The existing level of development of genetics and the tendency to consolidate the genetic data obtained as a result of genetic engineering activities into a single system of storage, processing and analysis indicate the need to establish reference points for the functioning of the state information system in the field of genetic information, - explained the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Lilia Gumerova.[5]

Russia adopted a law on the collection of genomic information of all suspects

On January 25, 2023, the State Duma in the third (final) reading adopted a law on the collection of genomic information of all suspects. Previously, DNA was taken only from those convicted of committing grave and especially grave crimes, as well as any crimes against sexual inviolability.

According to the new law, the list of persons subject to mandatory genomic registration will include all convicts and serving sentences in the form of imprisonment, suspects and accused of committing any crimes, as well as persons subjected to administrative arrest.

The genomic registration will be responsible for the preliminary investigation bodies, the inquiry bodies together with the departments of the internal affairs bodies and the Investigative Committee.

The explanatory note to the bill notes with reference to foreign experience that DNA databases are effective if they contain genomic information of at least 1% of the country's population. The Russian base at the beginning of 2020 contained genomic information 0.6% of the total population of Russia (965,315 accounting objects), the note says. It is assumed that within a year after the entry into force of the law, another 945,000 metering facilities will be entered into the database, in the next two years - another 1.8 million annually at the expense of categories such as convicts, suspects and defendants. As a result, the database will contain DNA 3.5% of the total population of the country, the explanatory note says.

Deputy Chairman of the Security Committee Anatoly Vyborny (United Russia) says that preparations for the second reading were carried out for a long time due to the coordination of different opinions about who needs to collect genomic information. The second reading of the project took place on January 24, 2023. The representative of MVDAlexander Avdeiko considers the bill "important and long-awaited."^[6]

2022: Russia adopted a law on the creation of a unified database of genetic information

On December 21, 2022, the State Duma adopted in the second and third (final) readings a bill aimed at creating a unified database of genetic information in the Russian Federation. Among other things, the document defines the purpose of the implementation of this project - "ensuring national security, protecting the life and health of citizens, sovereignty in the storage and use of genetic data, as well as ensuring the exchange of information contained in it between federal state bodies, state bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local governments and owners of genetic data when interacting in the framework of genetic engineering activities."

In addition, the concept of the term "genetic information - the sequence of nucleotides in nucleic acid polymers" is specified.

The Federation Council at a meeting on December 23, 2022 approved the law on the legal basis for the functioning of the state information system "National Genetic Information Base"

The concept of "genetic data is introduced - information about genetic information of various biological objects, presented in a form suitable for obtaining, systematizing, accumulating, storing, clarifying, using, disseminating and destroying such information."

According to the law, the rights to the results of intellectual activity, including programs for electronic computers and databases that arose as a result of the creation, modernization and operation of the information system, belong to the Russian Federation.

The law also establishes that the functions of the customer will be carried out by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the operator - by the federal state budgetary institution "National Research Center" Kurchatov Institute. " The information contained in the system will be provided at the request of the relevant persons in electronic form without charging a fee.

The law comes into force on September 1, 2024. December 23, 2022 he was kind by the Federation Council.

2021: Conducting a "complete inventory of bioresource collections"

In early October 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova spoke about the process of creating a national database of genetic information. A "complete inventory of bioresource collections" was carried out, that is, DNA samples of various microorganisms, plants, animals and people were sorted and preserved. We are talking about more than 100 collections, including those that have a high level of pathogenic danger.

According to Golikova, the base will include scientific research in priority areas for Russia, such as biosecurity, technologies for medicine, agriculture and industrial microbiology.

A national database of genetic data is being developed in Russia

The Deputy Prime Minister added that 127 billion rubles will be allocated for the program for the development of genetic technologies in general, which began in 2019 and will last until 2027, of which 111.5 billion are federal budget funds.

More than 100 organizations subordinate to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Rospotrebnadzor, as well as Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University participate in the implementation of the program.

The genetic data of Russians are primarily needed for the development of personalized medicine, when in any disease a person is assisted taking into account his predispositions calculated by DNA analysis, explained geneticist Alexander Reznik.

According to the biologist-geneticist Dmitry Madera, it is necessary to save and analyze genetic data in order to understand why some get sick with certain diseases, while others do not, in order to determine risks when planning offspring and treating diseases.^[7]

2020

The State Duma legalized the mandatory collection of DNA from criminals and suspects

The State Duma legalized the mandatory collection of DNA from criminals and suspects. This became known on December 23, 2020.

According to the initiative, such registration will become mandatory for all convicts serving sentences in the form of imprisonment, suspects and accused of committing crimes, as well as persons subjected to administrative arrest. As of December 2020, genomic registration is mandatory only for convicts serving sentences of imprisonment for committing grave or especially grave crimes, all categories of crimes against sexual inviolability and sexual freedom of the person, as well as unidentified persons whose biological material was seized during the investigation.

The explanatory note states that the creation of a genomic base made it possible to increase the detection of crimes in 2019 by one and a half times. The larger the base, the more effective it will work, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

As of December 2020, genetic profiles of almost a million Russians have been collected - this is less than half a percentage of the country's population. In two years, it is planned to bring this figure to 3%. The database will contain data from more than five million citizens.

It is also proposed to define the concept of "genomic information" as biometric and personal data, since it "represents information characterizing the biological characteristics of a person on the basis of which his identity can be established."

It is established that the law will enter into force 90 days after the day of its official publication. And the provisions regarding the genomic registration of persons subjected to administrative arrest - from January 1, 2023^[8].

The Russian government is going to create a DNA base for all offenders

The State Duma will consider a bill implying the creation of a global DNA base in Russia. This became known on November 3, 2020.

The government proposes to include in it without fail the genomic data of absolutely all criminals (convicted and accused), passing in cases as suspects and even taken under administrative arrest.

According to the authors of the bill, its adoption will increase the effectiveness of law enforcement officers, allowing them to use biometric data possible criminals in conducting their operational activities. If by the beginning of 2020 the federal genomic database number of about 965 thousand records of Russians, then if the law is adopted by 2023, it will grow to 5.2 million accounting units related to 3.5% of citizens. Russia

The explanatory note states that an increase in the DNA database will contribute to the level of crime detection. Such bases, according to the note, are effective only if they contain material from more than 1% of the country's population^[9]

In November 3, 2020, data on 0.6% of Russians were entered into the federal database of genomic information.

Expenditures from the federal budget for the implementation of this project in the next three years will amount to almost 7.7 billion rubles^[10].

Putin creates a national database of genetic data of Russians

On May 14, 2020, the president Russia Vladimir Putin announced the need to create a National Genetic Information Base. states The head instructed the government to organize financing of the project at the expense of the federal budget.

"The success of genetic research is largely determined by digital technologies, access to data sets. The larger their volume, the more reliable, more reliable the results, this is understandable. As in the field of scientific instrumentation, in these matters we must also ensure our sovereignty... It is about ensuring the protection of data, their storage and transfer, the development of software tools for searching, analyzing and modeling information on the basis of uniform standards , "Putin said at a meeting on the development of genetic technologies.

Putin spoke in favor of creating a National Genetic Information Base

The Russian leader listed six main tasks that need to be completed as part of the project:

• build a modern training system;
• launch genetics courses for schools;
• submit proposals for the creation of a domestic instrument base that allows for genetic research at the world level;
• create a National Genetic Information Base;
• link scientific collections into a network of biological resource centers;
• create opportunities in the country for everyone who is ready to achieve breakthroughs.

In addition, Vladimir Putin instructed to build a system of control over the use of genetic technologies.

Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova noted that by mid-May 2020 there are about 80 "disparate" bioresource collections in Russia, which need to be centralized and lead to a unified procedure for replenishment and use.

Director of the Kurchatov Institute Research Center Alexander Blagov said at the meeting that the institute houses one of the largest collections of industrial microorganisms in Europe, which at one time were created for the development of the USSR biotechnological industry.^[11]

See also

• Genetic data banks (biobanks, biorepositories, storing biological samples)
• Genetic engineering (genetic engineering)
• Genomics and Bioinformatics in Russia
• BioIT - Bioinformatics (main trends)
• Biohacking
• Gene therapeutics

Notes