MacVector understands the difference between circular DNA molecules and linear DNA molecules. Not just from the standpoint of how the molecule is displayed on the screen, but also in regard to how the analysis algorithms handle the junction at the ends of the circle. The Topology button controls the underlying linear versus circular state of […]
MacVector tries to optimize the Map graphics layout using a trade-off between performance and minimizing unnecessary white space. Sometimes the default settings we have chosen are not ideal, particularly if you are looking at the Map tab of an Align To Reference window where you have a large number of reads overlapping the same region. […]
You can use MacVector to create beautiful graphical representations of sequences with control over colors, patterns, fonts, symbols and many other aspects of the layout. The easiest way to get the graphics into another application is to simply choose Edit | Copy, switch to the target application and then choose Edit | Paste. The graphics […]
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 […]
The Map tab of MacVector is a powerful way to visualise and interact with your sequences. All analysis tools will work directly in the Map tab. You can design primers, ligate and digest fragments from the Cloning Clipboard, visualise translated CDS regions and much more. In fact one of the only tasks, you will need […]
OK, so this is a very simple tip that many users already know about. But we get enough queries about this functionality that its useful to go over it. The Editor tab has a fair amount of functionality, but it really is designed for editing of sequences at the residue level – we don’t directly […]
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 […]
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 […]
MacVector 13 has a great new feature where 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 Matrix Comparison (commonly known as a […]
While most features you might encounter in DNA files have a simple start and stop location on the sequence, some features are segmented. For example, the coding sequence of a protein encoding reading frame containing introns is represented by a segmented CDS feature on the genomic DNA. MacVector has always understood that the individual segments […]