World Federation for Culture Collections
Encyclopedia
The World Federation for Culture Collections is an international body formed under the umbrella of the International Union of Biological Sciences and a Federation within the International Union of Microbiological Societies
.
The WFCC operates as a clearing house for information on collections of microbiological specimens. It supports the development, maintenance and establishment of culture collections. The WFCC bylaws were published in 1972 in the International Journal of Systematic Biology (Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 22: 406-409, 1972) and updated several times since.
One of its main activities is the support of the WFCC-MIRCEN World Data Centre for Microorganisms. There are over 1.3 Million cultures and 525 culture collections under the purview of the WFCC.
The WFCC is governed by an executive board and through a series of committees.
Members of the executive board include scientists from England, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, Australia, China, and the United States.
The WFCC is a Multidisciplinary Commission of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) and a Federation within the International Union of Microbiological Societies
(IUMS).
In 1977 the WIPO established the Budapest Treaty
on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. The WFCC coordinates the International Congress of Culture Collections. The most recent meeting was the 11th and it was held in Goslar Germany in October, 2007. It was hosted by the DSMZ
.
The WFCC communicates via a regular newsletter.
The WFCC works with the OECD to promote Best Practice Guidelines for Biological Resource Centers.
Culture collections are important in the preservation of biodiversity
. In 2010 the Convention on Biological Diversity
in Nagoya adopted a protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources.
International Union of Microbiological Societies
The Internation Union of Microbiological Societies or IUMS, founded in 1927 as the International Society of Microbiology, is now one of 27 Scientific Unions of the International Council of Science ....
.
The WFCC operates as a clearing house for information on collections of microbiological specimens. It supports the development, maintenance and establishment of culture collections. The WFCC bylaws were published in 1972 in the International Journal of Systematic Biology (Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 22: 406-409, 1972) and updated several times since.
One of its main activities is the support of the WFCC-MIRCEN World Data Centre for Microorganisms. There are over 1.3 Million cultures and 525 culture collections under the purview of the WFCC.
The WFCC is governed by an executive board and through a series of committees.
Members of the executive board include scientists from England, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, Australia, China, and the United States.
Global significance
The WFCC is the main international body that coordinates the activities of culture collections around the world. Their activities include lobbying for support for collections, preventing the loss of collections, promoting the use of collections, and coordinating international regulations relating to the shipping and use of biological materials.The WFCC is a Multidisciplinary Commission of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) and a Federation within the International Union of Microbiological Societies
International Union of Microbiological Societies
The Internation Union of Microbiological Societies or IUMS, founded in 1927 as the International Society of Microbiology, is now one of 27 Scientific Unions of the International Council of Science ....
(IUMS).
In 1977 the WIPO established the Budapest Treaty
Budapest Treaty
The Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure, or Budapest Treaty, is an international treaty signed in Budapest, Hungary, on April 28, 1977. It entered into force on August 9, 1980, and was later amended on September 26,...
on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure. The WFCC coordinates the International Congress of Culture Collections. The most recent meeting was the 11th and it was held in Goslar Germany in October, 2007. It was hosted by the DSMZ
Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen
The Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen - DSMZ - GmbH was founded 1969 as the national culture collection in Germany...
.
The WFCC communicates via a regular newsletter.
The WFCC works with the OECD to promote Best Practice Guidelines for Biological Resource Centers.
Culture collections are important in the preservation of biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. In 2010 the Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
in Nagoya adopted a protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources.
Source
- World Federation for Culture Collections Xth International Congress, Int J Syst Bacteriol, Lapage, 22(4): 404
- World Federation for Culture Collections (Library of Congress)