SAM (Sequence Alignment/Map) is a file format used to store biological sequences aligned to a reference genome, enabling the representation of mapping positions of reads. This format is crucial for genome analysis as it allows researchers to visualize and work with genomic data in various applications such as variant calling and gene expression studies. SAM files provide a structured way to represent sequencing results that are compatible with genome browsers, making them integral for the analysis of next-generation sequencing data.
congrats on reading the definition of sam. now let's actually learn it.