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

The most simple way of generating new constructs in MacVector using restriction enzyme sites is to: [shift]-select two sites in the Map tab of a source molecule. Switch to the Map tab of a target vector. Select the corresponding site(s) there. Simply choose Edit | Paste to insert the copied fragment into the target molecule. […]

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Troubleshooting problems with MacVector

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 […]

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View sequences at the residue level in the Map tab

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 […]

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

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 […]

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How to make feature arrows point in the other direction

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 […]

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How to change the circular origin of a sequence

While most MacVector analysis algorithms can handle circular sequences, its sometimes useful to be able to set the “12 o’clock” point to a different location on the circle. This is easy to do with recent MacVector releases. If you are using MacVector 13.5, then all you have to do is position the flashing caret between […]

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Test PCR Primer Pairs using the Primer Design (Primer3) Interface

Over the past few releases of MacVector, we have been adding a lot of functionality to the Quicktest Primer and Primer Design/Test Pairs interfaces and slowly removing the old outdated primer design functions. The general strategy is that anything you need to do with a single primer, you can accomplish using the Quicktest Primer interface. […]

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How to find and open all the sequences on your computer containing a specific gene.

How often have you had a vector or sequence open and thought “I’m sure I have other vectors with that gene, but I can’t remember where they are”? If you are using MacVector 13.5, its very easy to quickly search folders on your hard drive to find all the sequences that contain that gene, then […]

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How to identify methylation blocked Restriction Sites

MacVector currently does not have a built-in function for recognizing restriction sites that are blocked by the DAM or DCM methylases. However, there is a simple workaround that lets you visually identify those sites in the restriction enzyme analysis result windows. The basic idea is that you create additional restriction enzyme sites for each enzyme […]

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Downloading BLAST Hits from the NCBI

When you use MacVector to run a BLAST search, did you know that you can download any matching sequences directly from the BLAST Description List window? Simply select text on any part of the line(s) representing the sequence you want to download and choose Database | Retrieve To Desktop or Database | Retrieve To Disk […]

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