[link|162|National Institute of Genetics website] The National Institute of Genetics (NIG) is located in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, [link|429|Mishima location]. It was established in 1949 as the central institute to study various aspects of genetics. It was reorganized in 1984 as an inter-university research institute to promote collaborations with researchers at universities. Since 1988, NIG has been participating in graduate education as the Department of Genetics of the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI). NIG also serves as a center for various genetic resources such as mutant strains, clones and vectors, and houses DDBJ, the DNA Data Bank of Japan, and a DNA sequencing center. Currently, 39 research are active at NIG. Director General is Dr Yuji KOHARA. NIG hosts DDBJ, the DNA Data Bank of Japan, several other large databases, various stocks of genetic resources, and distributes various libraries, vector clones and antibodies.