Methods for detecting variants in next-generation sequencing genomic data

Abstract

A genomic data analyzer may be configured to detect and characterize, with a variant calling module, genomic variants from next generation sequencing reads out of a pool of enriched genomic patient samples without suffering from next generation sequencing workflow biases such as those introduced by sequencing errors in particular in repeat patterns regions of the human genome such as homopolymers or heteropolymers. The variant calling module may estimate the probability distribution of the length of the repeat pattern for each patient sample and cross-analyze it against other samples in a single experimental pool to identify best-fit variant models for each pair of samples. The variant calling module may further group samples according to their matching best-fit variant models and identify which group of patient samples carries the wild type reference without the need for control data in the pool. The variant calling module may subsequently characterize the homozygous or heterozygous repeat patterns variants for each patient sample with improved specificity and accuracy even in the presence of next generation sequencing biases.