Life sciences research that uses genetic resources is increasingly collaborative and global, yet collective action remains a significant barrier to the creation and management of shared research resources. These resources include sequence data and associated metadata, and biological samples, and can be understood as a type of knowledge commons. Collective action by stakeholders to create and use knowledge commons for research has potential benefits for all involved, including minimizing costs and sharing risks, but there are gaps in our understanding of how institutional arrangements may promote such collective action in the context of global genetic resources. We address this research gap by examining the attributes of an exemplar global knowledge commons: The DNA barcode commons. DNA barcodes are short, standardized gene regions that can be used to inexpensively identify unknown specimens, and proponents have led international efforts to make DNA barcodes a standard species identification tool. Our research examined if and how attributes of the DNA barcode commons, including governance of DNA barcode resources and management of infrastructure, facilitate global participation in DNA barcoding efforts. Our data sources included key informant interviews, organizational documents, scientific outputs of the DNA barcoding community, and DNA barcode record submissions. Our research suggested that the goal of creating a globally inclusive DNA barcode commons is partially impeded by the assumption that scientific norms and expectations held by researchers in high income countries are universal. We found scientific norms are informed by a complex history of resource misappropriation and mistrust between stakeholders. DNA barcode organizations can mitigate the challenges caused by its global membership through creating more inclusive governance structures, developing norms for the community are specific to the context of DNA barcoding, and through increasing awareness and knowledge of pertinent legal frameworks.

中文翻译：

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非商业研究的全球遗传资源公域的治理：DNA条码公域的案例研究

使用遗传资源的生命科学研究越来越具有协作性和全球性，但是集体行动仍然是创建和管理共享研究资源的重大障碍。这些资源包括序列数据和关联的元数据以及生物学样本，可以理解为一种知识共享。利益相关者为创建和使用知识共享进行研究而采取的集体行动对所有相关方都有潜在的好处，包括最大程度地降低成本和分担风险，但是我们对制度安排如何在全球遗传资源背景下促进这种集体行动的理解存在差距。我们通过研究示例性全球知识共享的属性来解决这一研究空白：DNA条码共享。DNA条形码很短，标准化的基因区域可用于廉价地鉴定未知标本，并且支持者已引导国际努力使DNA条码成为标准的物种鉴定工具。我们的研究检查了DNA条形码共有点的属性，包括DNA条形码资源的管理和基础设施的管理，是否以及如何促进全球参与DNA条形码工作。我们的数据来源包括关键线人访谈，组织文档，DNA条形码社区的科学成果以及DNA条形码记录的提交。我们的研究表明，建立全球包容性DNA条码共享区的目标在一定程度上受到了以下假设的阻碍：在高收入国家，研究人员持有的科学规范和期望具有普遍性。我们发现科学规范是由资源盗用和利益相关者之间不信任的复杂历史所决定的。DNA条码组织可以通过创建更具包容性的治理结构，为社区制定针对DNA条码上下文的规范以及通过提高对相关法律框架的认识和知识来缓解其全球成员资格所带来的挑战。