Minimap2

Minimap2 is a fast and accurate software package for mapping DNA or RNA sequencing reads to a reference genome. Developed by Heng Li, it is widely used in bioinformatics for tasks such as genome assembly, variant calling, and transcriptomics. Minimap2's primary strength lies in its speed and efficiency, allowing it to process large datasets quickly. It achieves this through a combination of optimized algorithms and data structures, including techniques like hashing and short exact matches. The software supports various read types and sequencing technologies, including long reads from PacBio and Oxford Nanopore, as well as shorter Illumina reads. Minimap2 produces alignment files in SAM or PAF format, which can be used by downstream analysis tools. Its flexibility and performance have made it a popular choice for researchers working with genomic data. The project is open-source and available on GitHub.