Germplasm are living genetic resources such as seeds or tissues that are maintained for the purpose of animal and plant breeding, preservation, and other research uses. These resources may take the form of seed collections stored in seed banks, trees growing in nurseries, animal breeding lines maintained in animal breeding programs or gene banks, etc. Germplasm collections can range from collections of wild species to elite, domesticated breeding lines that have undergone extensive human selection. Germplasm collection is important for the maintenance of biological diversity and food security. In the United States, germplasm resources are regulated by the National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP), created by the U.S. congress in 1990. In addition the web server The Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) provides information about germplasms as they pertain to agriculture production. See also: Animal genetic resources for food and agriculture Conservation biology Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources Forest genetic resources International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Plant genetic resources Seed saving References Day-Rubenstein, K and Heisey, P. 2003. Plant Genetic Resources: New Rules for International Exchange 63 p. Economic Research Service. Global resources and productivity: questions and answers 174 p. SeedQuest Primer Germplasm Resources References External links USDA-ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) Bioversity International Bioversity International: Germplasm Collection Bioversity International: Germplasm Databases Bioversity International: Germplasm Documentation - overview Bioversity International: Germplasm Health DAD-IS: Domestic Animal Diversity Information System Developmental biology Conservation biology Food security Biorepositories