Meaning
From Possum
What is the meaning of POS∑?
P.O.S. stands for Portable Omics Standard, which is the ultimate goal of this initiative. Ideally, within a few years, the standard will be capable of combining, holding and visualizing a wide range of biological data types. "Sum" was added, since combining data of different kinds within a project should yield scientific insights that are greater than the sum of all separate data types.
Finally, the "possum" (opossum, Didelphis virginiana), a sympathetic animal species often overlooked in importance to science, is the mascot of the project. Being a marsupial, the opossum is naturally equipped with a pouch to store and carry around stuff, which is one of the main aims of POS∑.
