PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Chakravarthi Kanduri AU - Diana Domanska AU - Eivind Hovig AU - Geir Kjetil Sandve TI - Genome build information is an essential part of genomic track files AID - 10.1101/120923 DP - 2017 Jan 01 TA - bioRxiv PG - 120923 4099 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/03/27/120923.short 4100 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/03/27/120923.full AB - Genomic locations are represented as coordinates on a specific genome build version, but the build information is frequently missing when coordinates are provided. It is essential to correctly interpret and analyse the genomic intervals contained in genomic track files. Here, we demonstrate that this crucial metadatum (or rather datum) is often isolated from the genomic track files in public repositories and journal articles, which could be a major time thief. We propose best practices to ensure that genome build version is always carried along with genomic track files. Although not a substitute to the best practices, we also provide a tool to predict the genome build version of genomic track files.