Gene Construction Kit® Receives an Upgrade
Textco BioSoftware now shipping enhanced GCK version 3.0
West Lebanon, NH 09|30|08
Textco BioSoftware, Inc. today announced the release of an enhanced version of their award-winning DNA plasmid mapping software, Gene Construction Kit® (GCK 3.0). Since its introduction to the molecular biology community in 1989, GCK has become the cloning tool of choice for tens of thousands of scientists worldwide. GCK has proven the test of time – being dubbed the ‘Easy-to-learn AND Use’ cloning package by leading researchers utilizing it to simplify the management of their cloning projects.
Included among the many enhancements in GCK 3.0 are three brand new modules:
• The new PCR Analysis module allows a user to select a region of DNA, choose the amplification parameters desired, and have the program suggest the best matching primers surrounding the target region. The primers can then be added to the construct display as selectable, graphic elements. Amplified regions can be selected through a double-click, and copied to the clipboard for insertion into other constructs via a simple paste command.
• A Shotgun Cloning module saves countless hours of copying and pasting between source and target vectors to produce a library. Choose a source vector, define a digestion enzyme, and GCK automatically generates all the possible fragments – then inserts the fragments into the correct site on the target vector. A library of all possible constructs is automatically generated and saved to a user specified folder – making it a convenient way to determine the best approach to subcloning a fragment.
• A new Database Search module allows users to enter DNA, Protein or Keyword query information once, specify the databases to search (KEGG, EntrezGene, PDB, PFAM, etc.) and submit a single search to all of them, with one click of the mouse. GCK will take care of formatting the query correctly for each database and then return all results together in the users preferred internet browser.
In addition, GCK 3.0 includes a multitude of user-requested enhancements such as displaying introns, and being able to translate across them; new options to refine printing of multi-page documents; and updates to the GenBank importer code to conform to NCBI’s updated Entrez Programming Utilities Service, resulting in faster search and retrieve options, with a more accurate, and expandable parser.
Robert H. Gross, Ph.D., President and co-founder of Textco BioSoftware, was instrumental in the design and implementation of the new features offered in the updated version. Dr. Gross is very pleased that researchers who will work with the integrated web searching module, will be able to save a great deal of valuable time. “One of the most convenient aspects of the new Database Searching module of GCK is that a user will never have to worry about formatting searches correctly, or remembering search parameters for every site they wish to search. Even if the target website changes its requirements or accepted formats, our unique search engine will be automatically updated – behind the scenes – so users will never be bothered with this sometimes frustrating experience”, commented Dr. Gross. “GCK provides a single point of entry that is used to search multiple sites, saving the user a lot of time and headaches. In the coming months, we anticipate adding additional websites – as suggested by our customers – that will become instantly available to users of GCK. Each time a search is run, the user will automatically see all of the new sites that are available to search.”
Dr. Gross went on to express his gratitude to the customers stating, “We are very fortunate to have such a loyal customer base, and are pleased that GCK 3.0 includes many features and enhancements they have requested. We look forward to providing them with more productivity tools they can use in their research – and we anticipate being able to shorten our development cycle, so we can get these new tools into their hands sooner.”
Compatible with Mac OS 10.2 and higher (including Leopard), as well as Windows XP & Vista, the new release can save researchers both time and money. To celebrate the release of GCK 3.0, Textco BioSoftware is offering special ‘Introductory Discount’ pricing for both new GCK licenses and upgrades.
Contact Textco BioSoftware for more information. A free demo version of Gene Construction Kit 3.0 is available.
About Textco BioSoftware
Textco BioSoftware, Inc. (formerly Textco, Inc.), located in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, has been serving the software needs of molecular biologists for 24 years – since 1984. Textco’s mission is to provide high quality, intuitive software to assist molecular biologists in their research efforts. Textco has provided its solutions to scientists residing in more than 50 countries worldwide, engaged in genetic engineering research, drug development, and biotechnology.
Gene Construction Kit® Receives an Upgrade
Gene Construction Kit® Receives an Upgrade
Textco BioSoftware now shipping enhanced GCK version 3.0
West Lebanon, NH 09|30|08
Textco BioSoftware, Inc. today announced the release of an enhanced version of their award-winning DNA plasmid mapping software, Gene Construction Kit® (GCK 3.0). Since its introduction to the molecular biology community in 1989, GCK has become the cloning tool of choice for tens of thousands of scientists worldwide. GCK has proven the test of time – being dubbed the ‘Easy-to-learn AND Use’ cloning package by leading researchers utilizing it to simplify the management of their cloning projects.
Included among the many enhancements in GCK 3.0 are three brand new modules:
• The new PCR Analysis module allows a user to select a region of DNA, choose the amplification parameters desired, and have the program suggest the best matching primers surrounding the target region. The primers can then be added to the construct display as selectable, graphic elements. Amplified regions can be selected through a double-click, and copied to the clipboard for insertion into other constructs via a simple paste command.
• A Shotgun Cloning module saves countless hours of copying and pasting between source and target vectors to produce a library. Choose a source vector, define a digestion enzyme, and GCK automatically generates all the possible fragments – then inserts the fragments into the correct site on the target vector. A library of all possible constructs is automatically generated and saved to a user specified folder – making it a convenient way to determine the best approach to subcloning a fragment.
• A new Database Search module allows users to enter DNA, Protein or Keyword query information once, specify the databases to search (KEGG, EntrezGene, PDB, PFAM, etc.) and submit a single search to all of them, with one click of the mouse. GCK will take care of formatting the query correctly for each database and then return all results together in the users preferred internet browser.
In addition, GCK 3.0 includes a multitude of user-requested enhancements such as displaying introns, and being able to translate across them; new options to refine printing of multi-page documents; and updates to the GenBank importer code to conform to NCBI’s updated Entrez Programming Utilities Service, resulting in faster search and retrieve options, with a more accurate, and expandable parser.
Robert H. Gross, Ph.D., President and co-founder of Textco BioSoftware, was instrumental in the design and implementation of the new features offered in the updated version. Dr. Gross is very pleased that researchers who will work with the integrated web searching module, will be able to save a great deal of valuable time. “One of the most convenient aspects of the new Database Searching module of GCK is that a user will never have to worry about formatting searches correctly, or remembering search parameters for every site they wish to search. Even if the target website changes its requirements or accepted formats, our unique search engine will be automatically updated – behind the scenes – so users will never be bothered with this sometimes frustrating experience”, commented Dr. Gross. “GCK provides a single point of entry that is used to search multiple sites, saving the user a lot of time and headaches. In the coming months, we anticipate adding additional websites – as suggested by our customers – that will become instantly available to users of GCK. Each time a search is run, the user will automatically see all of the new sites that are available to search.”
Dr. Gross went on to express his gratitude to the customers stating, “We are very fortunate to have such a loyal customer base, and are pleased that GCK 3.0 includes many features and enhancements they have requested. We look forward to providing them with more productivity tools they can use in their research – and we anticipate being able to shorten our development cycle, so we can get these new tools into their hands sooner.”
Compatible with Mac OS 10.2 and higher (including Leopard), as well as Windows XP & Vista, the new release can save researchers both time and money. To celebrate the release of GCK 3.0, Textco BioSoftware is offering special ‘Introductory Discount’ pricing for both new GCK licenses and upgrades.
Contact Textco BioSoftware for more information. A free demo version of Gene Construction Kit 3.0 is available.
About Textco BioSoftware
Textco BioSoftware, Inc. (formerly Textco, Inc.), located in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, has been serving the software needs of molecular biologists for 24 years – since 1984. Textco’s mission is to provide high quality, intuitive software to assist molecular biologists in their research efforts. Textco has provided its solutions to scientists residing in more than 50 countries worldwide, engaged in genetic engineering research, drug development, and biotechnology.