An estimator for local analysis of genome based on the minimal absent word

•A comparison model is proposed based on the minimal absent word.•Smooth-local-analysis-curve and similarity-distribution are constructed.•A distance measure is deduced based on probability model.•The method has potential advantages over the local alignment method.

This study presents an alternative alignment-free relative feature analysis method based on the minimal absent word, which has potential advantages over the local alignment method in local analysis. Smooth-local-analysis-curve and similarity-distribution are constructed for a fast, efficient, and visual comparison. Moreover, when the multi-sequence-comparison is needed, the local-analysis-curves can illustrate some interesting zones.