GATK is utilized in epidemiology for various purposes, including:
Variant Discovery: GATK is instrumental in identifying genetic variants within populations. This helps in understanding the distribution of genetic traits and their association with diseases. Genotype Calling: It accurately calls genotypes, which is crucial for associating genetic markers with epidemiological data. Data Quality Control: GATK provides tools for quality control and data filtering, ensuring the reliability of the genetic data used in studies. Association Studies: The toolkit supports association studies which link genetic variants with specific health outcomes.