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Author: Chris

  • MacVector for Windows: update.

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    Chris
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    It’s quite a few months since the last update on the development of MacVector for Windows. Work is progressing very well and a lot of the underlying functionality is now finished. The Cloning Clipboard, Restriction Enzyme analysis and QuickTest Primer tools are all done. The release is still some time away, but if you are…

  • How to reset the numbering after pasting a DNA fragment

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    Chris
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    When you copy a section from a long sequence and paste it into a new MacVector window, the original numbering from the original sequence is retained. This is very useful if you want to work on a shorter segment of a genome without losing the original numbering. However, sometimes it is preferable to have the…

  • How to remove gaps from a sequence

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    Chris
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    There are often times when you end up with a sequence containing gaps, especially if you make extensive use of the Align To Reference, Contig Assembly or Multiple Sequence Alignment interfaces to generate consensus sequences. You can select and copy the consensus sequence, or even individual aligned reads, from the Align To Reference and Contig…

  • How to automatically annotate bare sequences

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    Chris
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    If you have an unannotated vector or other sequence that you’ve been sent from a sequencing lab, downloaded from a web page or been sent by a colleague, it can be very tedious to manually create all the features that you believe are present on the sequence – assuming you even know what is supposed…

  • How to display translations in the sequence editor

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    Chris
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    For those of you who like to type in DNA sequences, or do manual editing to the sequences, it’s really useful to be able to see the translations above or below the sequence residues in the Editor tab of the single sequence window. If you are a long term user, you’ll be familiar with the…

  • Use the [option] key to paste, or ligate, in the opposite orientation

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    Chris
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    The most simple way of generating new constructs in MacVector using restriction enzyme sites is to: MacVector is intelligent enough to understand compatible sticky ends during this procedure and will prompt if they do not match. For a simple cloning (e.g. inserting a copied EcoRI fragment into the EcoRI site of a vector), by default,…

  • Troubleshooting problems with MacVector

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    Chris
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    MacVector generally just works. However, it’s a very rare piece of software that does not have occasional technical faults. Every now and again we do get reports to MacVector Support about such technical issues. Whenever we come across such issues we document them and also try to fix it so they never happen again in…

  • View sequences at the residue level in the Map tab

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    Chris
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    Many MacVector users do not realize that you can view sequences at the residue level in the Map tab as well as the Editor tab. This has the advantage that you can see restriction enzyme cut sites (including staggered sticky ends) along with the graphical display of features aligned to the residues. You can even…

  • Use Analyze -> Align To Reference to align ABI trace files

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    Chris
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    One of the most common tasks in any molecular biology lab is the need to re-sequence a piece of DNA. Perhaps it is a cloned PCR fragment where you want to confirm the sequence, perhaps you are sequencing across a cloning junction, or maybe screening clones for a successful mutagenesis experiment. Many users immediately think…

  • How to make feature arrows point in the other direction

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    Chris
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    We’ve had quite a few users calling up recently to ask how to get the arrows representing a feature in the Map view to point “the other way”. The arrows in the Map view are always shown pointing in the 5′ to 3′ direction relative to the feature, i.e. left to right for a feature…