There are many initiatives already underway to share laboratory protocols and standard operating procedures. The SysMO-DB team and SysMO PALs explored a number of these before making recommendations about which formats the SysMO consortium should adopt

OpenWetWare is an effort to promote the sharing of information, know-how, and wisdom among researchers and groups who are working in biology & biological engineering.

http://www.openwetware.org

• public access

• no recommended format

Nature Protocols is an online resource for protocols, including authoritative, peer-reviewed 'Nature Protocols' and an interactive 'Protocols Network'. The two create a dynamic forum for scientists to upload and comment on protocols.

http://www.nature.com/nprot/

* published SOPs with links to publications

• defined format

Cold Spring Harbor Protocols is a definitive, interactive source of new and classic research techniques. The database is fully searchable by keyword and subject, and it has many novel features—such as discussion forums and personal folders—made possible by online publication. Its coverage includes cell and molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, protein science, and imaging. Protocols are presented step-by-step and edited in the style that has made Molecular Cloning, Antibodies, Cells and many other CSH manuals essential to the work of scientists worldwide. Protocols will be continuously expanded, updated, and annotated by the originators and users of the techniques.

http://cshprotocols.cshlp.org/

• proprietary published SOPs

* defined format

SOPs and Protocols can be uploaded or referenced through SEEK in any format, but if you use the recommended format (Nature Protocols), we can improve searching and discovery by indexing the contents of the the files. Below is a brief description of the Nature Protocols format. Items show in italics are optional. For more details about this format, please see the Nature Protocols Website

Nature Protocols Format

Protocol Title

Authors

Keywords

Abstract

Materials

Reagents

Reagent Set Up

Equipment

Time Taken

Procedure

Troubleshooting

Critical Steps

Anticipated Results

References