MacVector has released the latest update to its DNA and protein-sequence analysis, manipulation, and documentation application, MacVector 10.5. The program integrates a variety of industry-standard analysis and data mining algorithms and enables the manipulation or creation of DNA molecules. With the newest version, an “align to reference” tool has been added to allow alignment of cDNA to genomic sequences, in order to help identify splice sites and introns.

Building from the interface introduced in MacVector 10, the application also provides a new multi-pane preferences page, pop-up menu paths on window title bars, and customizable toolbars. File reading has been simplified and enhanced for improved importing of sequences into any function, and the assembler module received an update to simplify editing of reads and contigs. Lastly, a new view to enable the printing of contigs (a set of gel readings that are related to one another by overlapping sequences) was included.

MacVector 10.5 is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 or later. Pricing information is available directly from the company’s sales representatives.