101 things you (maybe) didn’t know about MacVector: #22 – Aligning Primers To A Reference Sequence

There are a number of different ways that you can find the potential binding locations of primers on a sequence using MacVector. You can use the Quicktest Primer function, or create a Primer database and scan for potential primer binding sites using the Analyze | Nucleic Acid Subsequence analysis algorithm. You can also use the […]

Posted in 101 Tips | Also tagged | Comments closed

101 things you (maybe) didn’t know about MacVector: #17 – Creating A Primer Database From An Excel File

Following on from my last post, and Nick’s comment that if you already have a primer collection, its not really practical to re-type them all into MacVector, one-by-one, here’s a useful tip to simplify that process. We have a utility called PrimerConverter.app that you can download from our website. You do need to be using […]

Posted in 101 Tips | Also tagged , | Comments closed

101 things you (maybe) didn’t know about MacVector: #16 – Using A Primer Database

If you have accumulated a collection of primers in your freezer, then you should consider storing the sequences in a primer database within MacVector so that you can rapidly scan any new plasmids for potential primer binding sites. Plus, you’ll have a nice electronic record of all your primer sequences. Start by choosing File | […]

Posted in 101 Tips | Also tagged , | Comments closed

101 things you (maybe) didn’t know about MacVector: #11 – What Is The Tm Of My Primer?

So, you have a primer sequence and you want to know what its melting temperature is? Well, MacVector has a lot of Primer Design functionality, and sometimes its difficult to know where to start. If you have MacVector 12.6 or later, the easiest and quickest way to do this is using the Quicktest Primer functionality. […]

Posted in 101 Tips | Also tagged | Comments closed

Upgrade or purchase a new license in August 2012 and receive a 10% discount.

To celebrate the recent release of MacVector 12.6 and the release of Mountain Lion we are offering a 10% discount on all new licenses and upgrades throughout August. Here are some of the new features in MacVector 12.6. If you like what you see and are interested in purchasing a license, or upgrading an existing […]

Posted in Releases | Also tagged , | Comments closed

QuickTest Primer: Designing Primers in MacVector

MacVector has a brand new tool for designing primers. QuickTest Primer completely changes the way primers can be designed on a computer. It simplifies primer design by showing your primer and its statistics in realtime. Does your primer have a hairpin? Nudge it along your template until the hairpin goes? Want to add a restriction […]

Posted in Releases, Techniques | Also tagged | Comments closed

Designing primers that do not bind at multiple places in your template

The default settings for Primer3 do not actually check for whether a primer will bind at multiple places in the template. To turn this on use the PRIMER vs PRODUCT setting in the PRIMER BINDING tab (the Primer3 parameter is “PRIMER_MAX_TEMPLATE_MISPRIMING”). The default value is -1, which means do not check. Change this to 1 […]

Posted in Tips | Tagged | Comments closed