diff --git a/datastore/genera.go b/datastore/genera.go
index 637c58b..4b66d66 100644
--- a/datastore/genera.go
+++ b/datastore/genera.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package datastore
 
 import (
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/thermokarst/bactdb/models"
 )
@@ -26,6 +27,9 @@ func (s *generaStore) Get(id int64) (*models.Genus, error) {
 }
 
 func (s *generaStore) Create(genus *models.Genus) (bool, error) {
+	currentTime := time.Now()
+	genus.CreatedAt = currentTime
+	genus.UpdatedAt = currentTime
 	if err := s.dbh.Insert(genus); err != nil {
 		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), `violates unique constraint "genus_idx"`) {
 			return false, err
@@ -56,6 +60,7 @@ func (s *generaStore) Update(id int64, genus *models.Genus) (bool, error) {
 		return false, models.ErrGenusNotFound
 	}
 
+	genus.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
 	changed, err := s.dbh.Update(genus)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
diff --git a/datastore/species.go b/datastore/species.go
index 651c3e0..54a5e24 100644
--- a/datastore/species.go
+++ b/datastore/species.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package datastore
 
-import "github.com/thermokarst/bactdb/models"
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/thermokarst/bactdb/models"
+)
 
 func init() {
 	DB.AddTableWithName(models.Species{}, "species").SetKeys(true, "Id")
@@ -22,6 +26,9 @@ func (s *speciesStore) Get(id int64) (*models.Species, error) {
 }
 
 func (s *speciesStore) Create(species *models.Species) (bool, error) {
+	currentTime := time.Now()
+	species.CreatedAt = currentTime
+	species.UpdatedAt = currentTime
 	if err := s.dbh.Insert(species); err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
@@ -50,6 +57,7 @@ func (s *speciesStore) Update(id int64, species *models.Species) (bool, error) {
 		return false, models.ErrSpeciesNotFound
 	}
 
+	species.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
 	changed, err := s.dbh.Update(species)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
diff --git a/datastore/strains.go b/datastore/strains.go
index 13fb331..1cdd887 100644
--- a/datastore/strains.go
+++ b/datastore/strains.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package datastore
 
-import "github.com/thermokarst/bactdb/models"
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/thermokarst/bactdb/models"
+)
 
 func init() {
 	DB.AddTableWithName(models.Strain{}, "strains").SetKeys(true, "Id")
@@ -22,6 +26,9 @@ func (s *strainsStore) Get(id int64) (*models.Strain, error) {
 }
 
 func (s *strainsStore) Create(strain *models.Strain) (bool, error) {
+	currentTime := time.Now()
+	strain.CreatedAt = currentTime
+	strain.UpdatedAt = currentTime
 	if err := s.dbh.Insert(strain); err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
@@ -50,6 +57,7 @@ func (s *strainsStore) Update(id int64, strain *models.Strain) (bool, error) {
 		return false, models.ErrStrainNotFound
 	}
 
+	strain.UpdatedAt = time.Now()
 	changed, err := s.dbh.Update(strain)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
diff --git a/datastore/users.go b/datastore/users.go
index fdacc6c..93f040f 100644
--- a/datastore/users.go
+++ b/datastore/users.go
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ func (s *usersStore) Get(id int64) (*models.User, error) {
 func (s *usersStore) Create(user *models.User) (bool, error) {
 	retries := 3
 	var wantRetry bool
+	currentTime := time.Now()
+	user.CreatedAt = currentTime
+	user.UpdatedAt = currentTime
 
 retry:
 	retries--