In the past few years, technology breakthroughs resulted in a drastic increase of DNA sequencing speed and automation level while significantly reducing the cost, e.g., sequencing a whole genome that cost over $3 billion in 2003 is now less than a thousand dollars. This enables continuous additions to our genomic knowledge (e.g., over 80 new variants of significance are added each month to one scientific database alone), making genomics more relevant each day. The vast amount of data generated in this process, at an ever-increasing pace, and the growing genomic applications emphasize a need for efficient data formats and specialized robust analytical tools.
