NBII Basic Underlying Principles

The National Biological Information Infrastructure is based on the following underlying principles:

• Designed as a broad-based collaborative system
• Operates as a distributed information system

The NBII is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation’s biological resources. It operates as a distributed information system, linking diverse, high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools maintained by NBII partners and other contributors in government agencies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and private industry. NBII partners and collaborators also work on new standards, tools, and technologies that make it easier to find, integrate, and apply biological resources information.