Amazon Biobank: a Blockchain-based Genomic Database for Bioeconomy

Abstract

The bioeconomy, an industrial production model based on biological resources and sustainable development, can be considered an emerging opportunity for biodiversity-abundant regions, such as the Amazon rainforest. However, existing genomic repositories lack data traceability and economic benefit-sharing mechanisms, resulting in limited motivation for data providers to contribute. To address this challenge, we present Amazon Biobank, a community-driven genetic database. By leveraging blockchain and peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies, we enable distributed and transparent data sharing; meanwhile, by using smart contracts directly registered in the system, we enforce fair benefit-sharing among all system participants. Moreover, Amazon Biobank is designed to be auditable by any user, reducing the need for trusted system managers. To validate our approach, we implemented a prototype using Hyperledger Fabric and BitTorrent and evaluated its performance. Our results show that the prototype can support at least 400 transactions per second in a small network and that it can be further improved by adding new nodes or allocating additional computational resources. We expect that Amazon Biobank will serve as a vital tool for collaborative biotechnology research, fostering sustainable development in high-biodiversity regions.