PaSS: a sequencing simulator for PacBio sequencing

Abstract Background Third-generation sequencing platforms, such as PacBio sequencing, have been developed rapidly in recent years. PacBio sequencing generates much longer reads than the second-generation sequencing (or the next generation sequencing, NGS) technologies and it has unique sequencing er...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenmin Zhang, Ben Jia, Chaochun Wei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-06-01
Series:BMC Bioinformatics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12859-019-2901-7
Description
Summary:Abstract Background Third-generation sequencing platforms, such as PacBio sequencing, have been developed rapidly in recent years. PacBio sequencing generates much longer reads than the second-generation sequencing (or the next generation sequencing, NGS) technologies and it has unique sequencing error patterns. An effective read simulator is essential to evaluate and promote the development of new bioinformatics tools for PacBio sequencing data analysis. Results We developed a new PacBio Sequencing Simulator (PaSS). It can learn sequence patterns from PacBio sequencing data currently available. In addition to the distribution of read lengths and error rates, we included a context-specific sequencing error model. Compared to existing PacBio sequencing simulators such as PBSIM, LongISLND and NPBSS, PaSS performed better in many aspects. Assembly tests also suggest that reads simulated by PaSS are the most similar to experimental sequencing data. Conclusion PaSS is an effective sequence simulator for PacBio sequencing. It will facilitate the evaluation and development of new analysis tools for the third-generation sequencing data.
ISSN:1471-2105