[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16609-16610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6910]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Identification 
of Human Cell Lines Project

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental 
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet 
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#204468594e454b60444f430e474f56"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f5b7746515a547f5b505c11585049">[email protected]</span></a>).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Margaret Kline at the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8311, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-
8311; or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f0bd91829791829584debb9c999e95b09e998384de979f86"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="470a26352026352233690c2b2e292207292e343369202831">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
Biochemical Science Division announces its intent to identify by short 
tandem repeat (STR) profiling up to 1500 human cell line samples as 
part of the Identification of Human Cell Lines Project. All data and 
corresponding information will be posted in a publically held database 
at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and will be 
used to differentiate among cell lines, as described in Designation: 
ASN-0002 Authentication of Human Cell Lines: Standardization of STR 
Profiling by the ATCC Standards Development Organization Workgroup.
    Human cell line samples are cells taken from a human being that can 
be grown in the laboratory and are considered immortal (alive and 
reproduce forever in a petri plate, given appropriate conditions). They 
can be used for scientific experiments, as examples of the tissue 
they're from. Once cells from a tissue have been grown in the lab they 
are called a cell line. There is a tremendous need for investigators to 
know with confidence that the cells they are using are of the desired 
species of origin.
    This interactive database will be used by the research and 
development community to validate cell lines of interest. It will offer 
DNA profiles of commonly used standard cell lines, as donated by 
interested parties. The database will allow disparate

[[Page 16610]]

laboratories to compare their lines, thereby facilitating the 
validation of experimental data. Thus the database will address the 
need for investigators to know much more about the samples used in 
their research. The database will fulfill an overarching need of 
researchers to characterize their substrates with an accepted standard.

II. Method of Collection

    The data required to differentiate among the cell lines can be 
submitted in hard copies or electronic submissions to NIST (contact 
information above).

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission (new information collection).
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations; 
Academia; Not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100 (15 cell line limit).
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours and 30 minutes (10 minutes/
cell line x 15 cell lines).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $2,000.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 18, 2011.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-6910 Filed 3-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P


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