Evaluation of Lou et al.: Proposed benefits of a population-specific genome reference

Summary: This study demonstrates the necessity of population-specific genome assemblies for genetic and medical analysis, especially when studying closely related populations. The de novo assembly of an individual genome (TJ1) from the Tujia population highlighted fine-scale differences between populations and improved precision for variant calling. This approach could potentially reduce false positives in clinical diagnoses and enhance our understanding of genetic diversity within specific ethnic groups.