Import, inspect, and export a DNA sequence

Use this page when you want to bring a plasmid or DNA sequence into raycrestMDS, review it in Sequence view, and export it in a clean handoff format.

Before you start

  • Open the workspace you want to use.
  • Keep the DNA file you want to import nearby.
  • Supported DNA import formats include GenBank, FASTA, and SnapGene .dna.
  • If your sequence lives in NCBI or Addgene, start with File > Import from Website..., then follow the same inspection and export steps below.

Import the sequence

  1. Open File > Import Sequence (GenBank/FASTA/SnapGene .dna)....
  2. Choose the file you want to import.
  3. Confirm the import.
  4. If needed, select the imported plasmid in the left sidebar.

Check your result - The imported plasmid appears in the sidebar. - The plasmid opens in the main viewer.

Watch for this - Native Geneious files are not imported directly. Re-export those files as GenBank or FASTA first.

Switch into sequence view

  1. Open the top View picker.
  2. Choose Sequence.

Check your result - The linear sequence workspace appears and the sequence editor is active.

Sequence selection and editing controls in the main workspace Use Sequence view when you need to inspect the bases directly, make a small edit, or confirm the active region before export.

Inspect the sequence before you export

  1. Turn on the overlays you need:
  2. Protein
  3. ORFs
  4. Restriction
  5. Primers
  6. Open the features filter and keep only the classes you want to inspect.
  7. Use Find if you need to jump to a sequence or protein match.

Tip - Turn off overlays you are not using before checking a short edit by eye. The cleaner view makes it easier to confirm that the right region is active.

Export the sequence

  1. For FASTA, choose File > Export Sequence (FASTA)....
  2. For a richer handoff file, choose File > Export for SnapGene / Benchling / Geneious / CLC (GenBank)....
  3. Choose the destination and save the file.

Check your result - The export file is written to the location you selected. - The file type matches the format you intended to share.

Sequence export dialog in raycrestMDS Use FASTA for simple sequence handoff and GenBank when annotation context matters downstream.

If it doesn't look right

  • The export commands are disabled:
  • Re-select the plasmid in the sidebar so the sequence is the active object.
  • The imported file does not open:
  • Check the extension and confirm it is a DNA sequence file, not a protein-only file.
  • The sequence view looks cluttered:
  • Turn off overlays and feature classes you do not need for the current check.