Customize and get the most out of your reduced-representation sequencing experiment with the new simulation software RADinitio.

Whole-genome sequencing is still often a difficult, costly and time-consuming task. The emergence of various genome reduced-representation sequencing (RRS) protocols such as restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) has facilitated the access to genome-wide information, without the need for whole-genome sequencing. Reaching the full potential of RRS protocols though requires adjustments and tailoring to the species under investigation. To that end, simulation software has been developed to guide researchers in the customization of their RADseq experiment, but the extent to which these tools mimic the behaviour of a protocol in generating sequencing data is limited. In this current issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Rivera-Colón et al. (2020) introduce RADinitio, a new software for simulating RADseq data designed to perform simulations at the highest level of representativeness. By taking into account the effects of library preparation and sequencing parameters on the resulting sequences, RADinitio allows the precise identification of the sources of failure when designing a RADseq experiment. This new software represents a considerable advance in RADseq data simulation and will likely lead to increased success in RADseq experiments.