How to read a genome in 2025: a computational perspective on the code of life

We've come a long way since first sequencing the human genome; however, interpreting genomic data remains a substantial challenge. Here, bioinformatics scientist at Baylor College of Medicine (TX, USA) Jasmine Baker shares the computational tools that can help extract meaningful information from genomic data, providing both practical tips and common pitfalls.  In 2001, sequencing the first human genome was a monumental feat: a US$3 billion, multi-institutional effort that took over a decade. Two decades later, the cost of genome sequencing has plummeted to under US$200, and the turnaround time is measured in hours, not years. While generating the data has...