HSLS Update

Introducing Sequencher: A new molecular biology software tool

HSLS recently added Sequencher to its growing list of licensed molecular biology software. Sequencher, a DNA sequence analysis software package developed by Gene Codes Corporation, Ann Arbor, Michigan, has gained popularity over the past 10 years in research labs around the world involved in DNA sequencing projects.  Sequencher provides an intuitive interface, coupled with ease of use, extraordinary speed, and accuracy for analyzing complex sequence data, viewing DNA sequencing information, and processing sequencedata.

The primary features of this program are fragment assembly and contig editing, restriction enzyme mapping, heterozygote detection, comparative sequencing, Open Reading Frame (ORF), motif and SNP analysis.

Some noteworthy aspects:

• You can read the electropherograms (graphical representations of the fluorescent intensity of each band in the sequencing gel) produced by automated sequencing machines. So, instead of looking at a text file of the sequence data, you can judge the quality of the sequence present at each base.
• You can also align cDNAs to the genomic DNA sequences, even in the presence of large gaps.
• You have access to tools for removal of contaminated vector sequences and low quality sequence data from the ends of the sequence reads.

HSLS has purchased one networked license Databasesfor the Windows version of Sequencher. To download the HSLS-licensed Sequencher, please contact Ansuman Chattopadhyay by e-mail (ansuman@pitt.edu), or by phone (412-648-1297).

Note: you can also download this software from the Gene Codes Corporation Web site <www.genecodes.com/demos> and use it in demonstration mode. The demonstration mode will permit you to use all the features of this software with no expiration date, but will not allow you to save and print your work.

--Ansuman Chattopadhyay