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Twelve years of SAMtools and BCFtools.
Petr Danecek1, James K Bonfield1, Jennifer Liddle1
1Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK.
Gigascience
|February 16, 2021
Summary
SAMtools and BCFtools are essential open-source software packages for high-throughput sequencing data analysis. These widely adopted tools offer comprehensive functionalities for genomic data manipulation, variant calling, and effect analysis, supporting numerous research projects.
Area of Science:
- Bioinformatics
- Computational Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- SAMtools and BCFtools are established software packages extensively utilized in high-throughput sequencing data processing and analysis.
- These tools provide a suite of functionalities essential for various genomic workflows.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the continued development and broad utility of SAMtools and BCFtools.
- To underscore their significance in the bioinformatics community and their role in numerous genomic pipelines.
Main Methods:
- The study focuses on the features and historical development of SAMtools and BCFtools.
- It emphasizes their accessibility, licensing, and widespread adoption.
Main Results:
- SAMtools and BCFtools have been actively maintained and enhanced over the past 12 years.
- They are integral components in countless genomic analysis pipelines and software projects.
Conclusions:
- SAMtools and BCFtools are freely available under the MIT license, supporting both non-commercial and commercial use.
- With over a million installations via Bioconda, these packages demonstrate significant impact and accessibility in genomic research.
