Difference between Primary and Secondary Database with Examples

Database is a collection of related data arranged in a way suitable for adding, locating, removing and modifying the data

I. Primary database

1. It is also known as archival database
2. Databases consisting of data derived experimentally such as nucleotide sequences and three dimensional structures are known as primary databases.
3. It contains the original experimental results are directly submitted into database by researchers across the globe
4. Primary database has high levels of redundancy or duplication of data
5. Example of Primary Databse: Gen bank, DDBJ, PDB, PIR

II. Secondary database

1. It is also known as curated database or derived database
2. Databases consisting of data derived from the analysis of primary data such as nucleotide sequences, protein structures etc
3. It contains results of analysis of primary databases and significant data in the form of conserved sequences, signature sequences, active site residues of proteins etc.
4. Secondary database has low levels of redundancy or duplication of data as it is curated

  5. Example of Secondary Database: Swiss Prot, Pfam, InterPro, PROSITE, BLOCKS, PRINTS, OMIM