2. Before you start

version 2025

Before starting the BioSample submission process, it is helpful to prepare key information and documents in advance. A BioSample represents the biological source material from which data are derived. Therefore, submitting a BioSample requires detailed information describing the sample’s origin, characteristics, and experimental context. This guide outlines the information you should prepare before beginning the submission process to ensure a smooth and efficient registration.

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1. BioProject

Indicate whether the BioSample is associated with an existing BioProject.

• Yes: Select the BioProject accession number previously registered in K-BDS.

• No: Create a new BioProject as part of this submission. 👉 For detailed instructions on BioProject registration, refer to the BioProject Document

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2. Release Date

Specify when the BioSample should be released to the public. You can choose to release immediately following processing or release on a specified date for public access.

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3. Package

Select the type of biological sample you wish to register. This determines which attributes and metadata fields are required in the submission form.

Sample categories include:

• Human

• Model organism or animal

• Invertebrate

• Plant

• Microbe

• Virus

• Pathogen

  • Clinical or host-associated pathogen

  • Environmental, food, or other pathogen

• Metagenome or environmental

• MIMS Environmental/Metagenome Package

  • Agriculture, Air, Built, Microbial, Miscellaneous, Sediment, Wastewater, Water

  • Host-associated, Plant-associated, Symbiont-associated

  • Food (animal and animal feed, farm environment, food production facility, human foods)

  • Human (associated, gut, oral, skin, vaginal)

  • Hydrocarbon resources (cores, fluids/swabs)

💡 Tip: Choosing the correct sample type ensures the appropriate metadata schema (attribute set) is automatically applied in the next step.

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4. Attribute

Prepare and enter detailed sample attributes according to the selected sample package. Attributes capture the biological and experimental context of your sample, including:

• Basic information: Organism, NCBI taxonomy ID, Sample name

• Collection details: Collection by, Collection date, Geographic location

• Experimental conditions: Growth protocol, description, treatment

Each attribute should be entered clearly and consistently to ensure data interoperability and reusability. Refer to the Standard packages or MIMS packages of BioSample Appendix for detailed attributes

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✅ Checklist Before Submission

Before starting the BioSample registration process, make sure you have prepared:

• Associated BioProject ID (existing or new)

• Release date

• Sample package

• Attribute information appropriate for the sample package

💡 Tip: Preparing these details in advance will reduce submission time and prevent validation errors during the review process.