background genome The ZFIN background 'AB' that serves as a reference as part of the genotype fgf8a^ti282a/+ (AB) OBI:genetic population background information A reference genome that represents the sequence of a genome from which a variant genome is derived (through the introduction of sequence alterations). genomic background Here, a 'genomic background' would differ form a 'reference genome' in that 'background' implies a derivation of the variant from the background (which is the case for most MOD strains), whereas a reference is simply meant as a target for comparison. But in a sense all background genomes are by default reference, in that the derived variant genome is compared against it. reference genome