reference sequence [GENO_0000017]

reference sequence

ID: GENO_0000017

A sequence that serves as a standard against which other sequences at the same location are compared.

A reference sequence is one that serves as a standard against which 'variant' versions of the feature are compared, or against which located sequence features within the reference region are aligned in order to assign position information. Being 'reference' does not imply anything about the frequency or function of features bearing the sequence. Only that some agent has used it to serve a reference role in defining a variant or locating a sequence.