This message is to announce that we plan to release in the next few days into
the EMBL Nucleotide Sequence Database a DNA sequence record with the new
Accession Number format consisting of 2 letters plus 6 digits (eg AB123456).
This entry will be distributed via the daily/weekly/cumulative update mechanism
on our anonymous FTP server, as well as being available from EBI network
servers.
This change was announced by the International Nucleotide Sequence
Databases (DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank) in June of last year and in all subsequent
issues of the database release notes. See the text below or link to the URL
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ebi_docs/embl_db/relnotes47/forthcoming_changes.html#acc
This single record will give you the opportunity to ensure that your various
programs, scripts or retrieval software you may be using are working the
expected way when such records come your way.
Regards,
Peter Stoehr
EMBL -EBI
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Notice of Accession Number Format Change
Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaborative Agreement
31 May 1995
Currently, accession numbers used by the nucleotide sequence
databases consist of one prefix letter followed by 5 digits. EST
projects and projects to add patent data have accelerated the need to
extend the accession number space. It is projected that the databases
will run out of accession numbers within 8 to 10 months.
It is clear that:
* As much notice as possible should be given to users and
software developers.
* The change should make a large enough space that another
change will not be necessary in the foreseeable future.
* The accession number should continue to be readily
identifiable as a DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank accession number.
The collaborators concluded that:
* A new form of accession number will be created, defined as
an 8-character alphanumeric string, beginning with two
upper case letters and followed only by digits
(e.g., SR004562). Leading and trailing zeros are significant.
The letter 'O' will not be used.
* Existing 6-character accession numbers will remain as they
are, and will never be transformed to an 8-character form.
* New accession numbers will not be used before February 1,
1996. The groups agree to avoid using new accession numbers
as long as possible after that.
The International Nucleotide Sequence Databases
DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank
