FAIR BioHeaders
Keep the context. Carry it with the genome.
Reference genomes · Metadata · Provenance
Metadata that travels with the data
FAIR BioHeaders develops standards and tools that keep metadata and provenance close to biological sequence and annotation data. The FAIR Header Reference genome (FHR) standard describes reference genomes through a small required metadata core and extensible representations, helping researchers identify the reference used in an analysis and retain its context.
Our approach is guided by FAIR—Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable—and TRUST—Transparency, Responsibility, User focus, Sustainability, and Technology. We aim for practical adoption, compatibility with existing workflows, and honest, reusable provenance.
What you will find here
This Zenodo community brings together archived project outputs: specifications, schemas, software, workflow integrations, conformance material, examples, and related research. Development takes place on GitHub; Zenodo records provide persistent identifiers for deposited outputs and their versions.
The broader family includes work on reference genomes, transcriptomes, proteins, and GFF3 annotations, alongside converters, validators, and workflow support. Components are at different stages of development: consult each resource’s documentation and release information for its current status.
- Project website
- Using FHR: worked example and compatibility guidance
- Resources and citation guidance
- Specifications and schemas
- FAIR BioHeaders tools
- GFF3 validator and Nextflow integrations
- Public cross-repository project board
Research and wider context
Start with FAIR Header Reference genome: a TRUSTworthy standard for the published description of FHR.
Publications we have had a part in connect this work to genome nomenclature, project reporting, data discovery, and the wider FAIR community:
- Guidelines for gene and genome assembly nomenclature—naming and linking assemblies.
- Toward standardization in arthropod and biodiversity genome projects—sample, assembly, quality, and submission reporting.
- AgBioDatabase Finder—finding repositories for depositing and discovering data.
- The future is FAIR—the wider AgBioData effort to make genomic data easier to discover, integrate, and reuse.
See our publications page for citations and explanations of these connections. For direct use of an archived specification or tool, cite the specific version DOI; concept DOIs group releases.
Why the hexagon?
The hexagon reflects the six-membered ring found in all four DNA bases: thymine, cytosine, guanine, and adenine. Thymine and cytosine each have one six-membered ring; adenine and guanine have a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring. Repeating patterns in nature support this molecular connection across biodiversity. Read about DNA structure.
Take part
FAIR BioHeaders is maintained by Adam Wright and David Molik. Questions, bug reports, implementation experience, and contributions are welcome through the project repositories. Choose the repository that matches your question; the public project board links work across them.