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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

A Novel Bayesian Change-point Algorithm for Genome-wide Analysis of Diverse ChIPseq Data Types
Published on: December 10, 2012
Is it time to change the reference genome?
Sara Ballouz1, Alexander Dobin1, Jesse A Gillis2
1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, The Stanley Institute for Cognitive Genomics, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, USA.
Abstract:
The use of the human reference genome has shaped methods and data across modern genomics. This has offered many benefits while creating a few constraints. In the following opinion, we outline the history, properties, and pitfalls of the current human reference genome. In a few illustrative analyses, we focus on its use for variant-calling, highlighting its nearness to a 'type specimen'. We suggest that switching to a consensus reference would offer important advantages over the continued use of the current reference with few disadvantages.
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