A team led by Haoyu Cheng at Yale School of Medicine introduced hifiasm (ONT), an algorithm that achieves near end-to-end human genome assembly using standard sequencing inputs, removing the need for ultra-long DNA reads that require far more input material and are often impractical for clinical samples. The tool promises to democratize complete genome assembly for labs with routine sequencing platforms. Cheng’s approach addresses a key practical bottleneck: ultra-long-read sequencing can demand 40x more DNA and often fails on limited clinical specimens. hifiasm (ONT) constructs contiguous assemblies with standard preparations, potentially enabling broader use of complete-genome analyses in research and diagnostics. Why it matters: more accessible, near-complete assemblies lower technical barriers for clinical genomics, rare‑variant discovery, and structural-variant characterization, accelerating translational genomics and diagnostics workflows.