What standards must a sequence listing comply with in a PCT application?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
Sequence listings in PCT applications must comply with specific standards set by the Administrative Instructions. According to MPEP 1877:
“the International Preliminary Examining Authority may invite the applicant to furnish such a sequence listing complying with the standard provided for in the Administrative Instructions”
This means that the sequence listing must adhere to the format and technical requirements outlined in the PCT Administrative Instructions. These instructions provide detailed guidelines on how to present nucleotide and amino acid sequences in a standardized format that can be easily processed and searched by patent offices worldwide.