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Using BLAST to automatically annotate a sequence
Read more: Using BLAST to automatically annotate a sequenceYou can use the Database->Auto-Annotate Sequence function to quickly annotate a bare sequence using existing annotated sequences on your file system. However, this only works if your collection of sequences contains features representing all parts of the bare sequence. Luckily, if you have an unannotated region after running Auto-Annotate, you can use MacVector’s built-in BLAST…
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How to select all identical restriction enzyme sites
Read more: How to select all identical restriction enzyme sitesThe Automatic Restriction Enzyme Analysis tool that is displayed on the sequence in the Map tab is very powerful. It automatically displays a custom set of restriction enzyme recognition sites on every sequence that you open. Unique recognition sites are displayed in red and sites with two or more cut locations are displayed in blue.…
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Quick shortcuts to zoom in and out in the Single Sequence Map tab
Read more: Quick shortcuts to zoom in and out in the Single Sequence Map tabOne very useful feature of the single sequence Map tab is that you can use the mouse to “drag-select” and zoom in to view a smaller section of a large sequence. Apart from the utility of using this to “drill down” to view individual genes, or even residues, in a large sequence, if you do…
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Opening matching sequences from an Align To Folder search
Read more: Opening matching sequences from an Align To Folder searchYou can use the Database->Align To Folder menu function in MacVector to quickly search any set of folders on your hard drive for matching sequences. Its like having your own personal BLAST search that just scans files of interest to you. The great thing is, when you find matching sequences, you can easily open them…
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Smart Folders and MacVector
Read more: Smart Folders and MacVectorOS X’s Finder has many features for quickly finding and working with your files. Spotlight Search is one such tool that most Mac users are familiar with. However, Smart Folders is a tool that is very useful but often overlooked. Smart Folders allow you to create a dynamic folder whose contents are derived from a…
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Restriction enzyme sites in cloning vectors show compatible ends with fragments in the Cloning Clipboard
Read more: Restriction enzyme sites in cloning vectors show compatible ends with fragments in the Cloning ClipboardIf you are looking for compatible cloning sites for a fragment, MacVector has a simple color-coded function to identify potential target sites in a vector. First select the fragment you wish to clone by clicking on two enzymes in the Map view of a single sequence document or from a restriction enzyme search result. Then…
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Quickly checking a small sequencing project
Read more: Quickly checking a small sequencing projectFor analyzing large sequencing datasets you need Assembler. However, many times you do not need a powerful tool but just a quick way to check some sequencing data. For example for checking small sequencing projects, such as a site directed mutagenesis, looking for SNPs in a PCR product, cloning a gene or checking your latest…
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Testing pairs of PCR primer
Read more: Testing pairs of PCR primerOver the past few releases of MacVector, we have changed primer testing considerably. Now all primer design and testing can be done using Quicktest Primer for a single primer and Primer Design (Primer3) for pairs of primers. If you want to test an existing pair of primers for suitability, use the following steps: Open the…
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Quickly design a pair of primers to amplify a feature
Read more: Quickly design a pair of primers to amplify a featureDesigning a pair of primers to amplify a single feature is pretty quick with MacVector. Select a feature in the MAP tab. Run Primer Design/Test(Pairs). Ensure the dropdown menu is set to AMPLIFY FEATURE. Click OK. Check the summary shows that primers have been found and select the spreadsheet and graphical view. Click OK.
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Tear-off Result Window Tabs
Read more: Tear-off Result Window TabsStarting with MacVector 13 all analysis results for an individual sequence are collected into a single tabbed result window to reduce window clutter. However, there are times when it is very convenient to have results displayed in side-by-side windows. For example, if you run a dot plot you can zoom in to view sections of…
