Tag: weeklytip
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Using the Primer Database to store your lab’s collection of primers
MacVector’s Primer Database allows you to save and retrieve primers from a Primer Database with the Primer3 and Quicktest Primer tools. You can also scan sequences for potential primer binding sites using Primer Database Search. The tool comes with a starter database of primers, but you can use existing subsequence files or import primers from…
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Viewing external database entries for features in a sequence.
Sequences, or regions of sequences, can be linked to external databases. For example an entire sequence entry or for when annotation tools are used to annotate proteins with domain or motif information (e.g. InterProScan available in MacVector 15). Very useful for when you want to view more detailed or updated information. Within the Genbank specification,…
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Optimizing the Reverse Translation function
The Analyze | Reverse Translation menu option lets you create a DNA sequence from a Protein sequence, reverse translated using a specific Genetic Code (by default, the Universal Genetic Code). The default option creates a DNA sequence with N’s and other ambiguities reflecting the degeneracy of the genetic code. This is great if you want…
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Tear-off Result Window Tabs: make viewing results easier.
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 the comparison by drag-selecting…
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Highlighting sequence using color and lower case in the Editor tab
You can very quickly annotate a region of interest in your sequence in the Editor tab. For example, showing introns in lower case or highlighting CDS features with a colored background. Using the TRANSFORMATIONS menu To enter sequences as mixed case. Enable Edit | Transformations | Enable Mixed Case Entry Type your sequence using SHIFT…
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Restriction enzyme analysis in MacVector and REBASE
Although there are two different ways to perform restriction enzyme analysis with MacVector, there are also additional places where restriction enzyme sites are shown. All these tools use the same set of restriction enzyme files to recognise enzymes. These files are updated regularly from the REBASE database. The restriction enzymes are divided into multiple files.…
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Drag and drop to quickly annotate ORFs
You can use the Analyze | Open Reading Frames function to very quickly find ORFs on a sequence. Did you know that you can very quickly turn those results into permanent CDS features on your sequence? After running the Open Reading Frames analysis, simply drag and drop the ORF objects you are interested in from…
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Download the latest published version of your favorite sequence with its accession number
It’s very quick to download the latest version of a sequence if you know its accession number. When you start working with a new sequence, it’s the best place to start. Go to DATABASE > ENTREZ Enter the accession number of your favorite sequence Click SEARCH Double click on the result to open up your…
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How to change the default appearance of RE sites
MacVector is extremely customizable. If you don’t like the defaults we supply, its very easy to change them. Lets look at restriction enzyme sites. By default we show unique sites in small red letters and sites that cut more than once in small blue letters. But suppose you want something bigger, bolder and, well, more…
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Working with digested fragments in the Cloning Clipboard
The Cloning Clipboard is an easy, and flexible, way to design and document your cloning strategies. Here’s two tips on manipulating a single fragment. – If you drag a fragment from the Cloning Clipboard to a vector, then you’ll get the ligation dialog. However, if you have already selected a pair of enzyme sites, then…