Built by bench scientists, for bench scientists.
RayCrest keeps plasmid editing, sequencing review, and publication-ready maps attached to the same construct in one local-first Mac workspace.
Verified compatibility
Open GenBank files, FASTA files, SnapGene .dna files, AB1 files, and FASTQ files in the same local workflow. See interoperability details
POPULAR WORKFLOWS
The core jobs bench teams reach for most in RayCrest.
Plasmid Editor
Move from construct changes to shareable plasmid maps without rebuilding it in a second tool.
Primer Design
Design primers and plan PCR simulation in the same construct view, with modes for sequencing, cloning, and mutagenesis.
Sanger Validation
Use RayCrest as an AB1 viewer and chromatogram viewer for construct validation, so you can see mismatches where they occur instead of guessing from summaries.
Multiple Sequence Alignment
AlignCove, RayCrest's built-in protein alignment tool, gives the same protein MSA result for the same input — making reruns and methods writeups easier to trust.
SnapGene Interoperability
Bring verified file types into the same Mac workflow you use for editing, validation, and map export.
.dna, Sanger .ab1/.abi, and FASTQ.PROTEIN DESIGN
Use codon optimization and reverse translation tools without leaving the construct workflow.
Codon Optimization
Optimize codon usage while preserving the encoded amino-acid sequence, then review the result alongside your plasmid and primer work.
Classic and Harmonize.PRODUCT SURFACES
RayCrest centers the workflow around three main surfaces: construct work, evidence review, and figure-ready output.
Plasmid editing, primer design, and map-aware construct work all live in one workspace.
AB1 and FASTQ-backed validation plus repeatable protein MSA live in one review surface.
Publication-ready plasmid maps and vector-style outputs come from the same reviewed construct.
REAL CONSTRAINTS
RayCrest is built for the parts of bench work that become hard to trust when editing, evidence, and outputs live in separate tools.
Same input, same protein MSA output.
Codon optimization surfaces CAI, GC %, CpG, repeats, and motif burden in one reviewable run.
Jump from mismatch calls to chromatogram and FASTQ evidence instead of stopping at summaries.
Export plasmid maps from the same reviewed sequence rather than rebuilding them later.
CONNECTED WORKFLOW
RayCrest keeps design, simulation, validation, and history in one connected workflow so the next step is always close to the construct.
Edit the construct, keep annotations in view, and launch primer work from the active sequence.
Check digest plans, virtual gels, and assembly logic before ordering or cutting.
Confirm mismatches with Sanger chromatograms or FASTQ support at the bases that matter.
Keep runs, decisions, and construct history together so handoffs and writeups stay clear.
WHY MACOS-NATIVE
RayCrest is built for local files, native Mac behavior, and bench work that can't afford browser delays or network dependencies.
Edit, review, and export in a native Mac app that stays quick on everyday tasks.
Work with local files and familiar privacy controls even when Wi-Fi or VPN gets in the way.
Use familiar windows, shortcuts, and file behavior instead of bouncing across browser tabs.
ACCESS + BACKGROUND
MDS will launch as an inexpensive individual subscription on the Mac App Store. Invite-only beta access is available now for active bench workflows.
View licensing detailsMDS started as a practical workspace for molecular cloning and protein engineering, built to keep design, evidence, and shareable outputs attached to the same construct.
Request beta access and tell us whether plasmid editing, primer design, sequencing validation, MSA, or map export matters most to your team.