DNASTAR
Encyclopedia
DNASTAR is a bioinformatics
company headquartered in Madison, WI that provides software for DNA sequence analysis
and assembly, gene expression analysis, and genomic visualization.
The initial version of Lasergene was released in 1986, and it has since grown in its capabilities. The latest version, Lasergene 9.0, was released in April 2011. The software supports virtual restriction enzyme cloning as well as TOPO cloning
, and cloning using the Gateway technology
. Lasergene has also added the functions to do BLAST
and FASTA
search and utilize multiple alignment methods including Clustal
.
In June 2007, the company introduced its ArrayStar software for microarray gene expression analysis. The latest version of ArrayStar, version 4.0, which was released in 2010, included an optional module, QSeq, to allow scientists to visualize and analyze RNA-Seq
and ChIP-Seq data using the same tools as are used for microarray
gene expression
.
In October 2007, the company introduced SeqMan NGen to assemble data from Next Generation sequencing platforms. When used along with Lasergene, SeqMan NGen permits researchers to assemble and analyze data from sequencing projects from both traditional and next generation sequencing technologies. Lasergene's use in Next Generation sequence assembly and analysis software was contributed as a chapter, written by company scientists, to the 2008 book Next Generation Genome Sequencing edited by Michael Janitz.
In 2008, DNASTAR was awarded a Reader's Choice Gold Award by Scientific Computing Magazine for the Lasergene sequence analysis software.
The 2008 book Inventing Entrepreneurs: Technology Innovators and their Entrepreneurial Journey by Gerard George and Adam J. Bock includes DNASTAR as an example of an innovative and entrepreneurial success story.
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms, databases and information systems, web technologies, artificial intelligence and soft computing, information and computation theory, software...
company headquartered in Madison, WI that provides software for DNA sequence analysis
Sequence analysis
In bioinformatics, the term sequence analysis refers to the process of subjecting a DNA, RNA or peptide sequence to any of a wide range of analytical methods to understand its features, function, structure, or evolution. Methodologies used include sequence alignment, searches against biological...
and assembly, gene expression analysis, and genomic visualization.
History
DNASTAR was incorporated in 1984. Its primary software product, Lasergene, is usually used by molecular biology researchers for DNA and protein sequence assembly and analysis.The initial version of Lasergene was released in 1986, and it has since grown in its capabilities. The latest version, Lasergene 9.0, was released in April 2011. The software supports virtual restriction enzyme cloning as well as TOPO cloning
TOPO Cloning
TOPO Cloning is a molecular biology technique in which DNA fragments amplified by either Taq or Pfu polymerases are cloned into specific vectors without the requirement for DNA ligases.- Principle :...
, and cloning using the Gateway technology
Gateway Technology
The Gateway cloning System, invented and commercialized by Invitrogen since the late 1990s, is a molecular biology method that enables researchers to efficiently transfer DNA-fragments between plasmids using a proprietary set of recombination sequences, the "Gateway att" sites, and two proprietary...
. Lasergene has also added the functions to do BLAST
BLAST
In bioinformatics, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, or BLAST, is an algorithm for comparing primary biological sequence information, such as the amino-acid sequences of different proteins or the nucleotides of DNA sequences...
and FASTA
FASTA
FASTA is a DNA and protein sequence alignment software package first described by David J. Lipman and William R. Pearson in 1985. Its legacy is the FASTA format which is now ubiquitous in bioinformatics.- History :...
search and utilize multiple alignment methods including Clustal
Clustal
Clustal is a widely used multiple sequence alignment computer program. The latest version is 2.1. There are two main variations:*ClustalW: command line interface*ClustalX: This version has a graphical user interface...
.
In June 2007, the company introduced its ArrayStar software for microarray gene expression analysis. The latest version of ArrayStar, version 4.0, which was released in 2010, included an optional module, QSeq, to allow scientists to visualize and analyze RNA-Seq
RNA-Seq
RNA-seq, also called "Whole Transcriptome Shotgun Sequencing" and dubbed "a revolutionary tool for transcriptomics", refers to the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies to sequence cDNA in order to get information about a sample's RNA content, a technique that is quickly becoming...
and ChIP-Seq data using the same tools as are used for microarray
Microarray
A microarray is a multiplex lab-on-a-chip. It is a 2D array on a solid substrate that assays large amounts of biological material using high-throughput screening methods.Types of microarrays include:...
gene expression
Gene expression
Gene expression is the process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product. These products are often proteins, but in non-protein coding genes such as ribosomal RNA , transfer RNA or small nuclear RNA genes, the product is a functional RNA...
.
In October 2007, the company introduced SeqMan NGen to assemble data from Next Generation sequencing platforms. When used along with Lasergene, SeqMan NGen permits researchers to assemble and analyze data from sequencing projects from both traditional and next generation sequencing technologies. Lasergene's use in Next Generation sequence assembly and analysis software was contributed as a chapter, written by company scientists, to the 2008 book Next Generation Genome Sequencing edited by Michael Janitz.
In 2008, DNASTAR was awarded a Reader's Choice Gold Award by Scientific Computing Magazine for the Lasergene sequence analysis software.
The 2008 book Inventing Entrepreneurs: Technology Innovators and their Entrepreneurial Journey by Gerard George and Adam J. Bock includes DNASTAR as an example of an innovative and entrepreneurial success story.
Products
- Lasergene is a suite of seven software modules used for molecular biology analysis including geneGeneA gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
discovery, primerPrimer (molecular biology)A primer is a strand of nucleic acid that serves as a starting point for DNA synthesis. They are required for DNA replication because the enzymes that catalyze this process, DNA polymerases, can only add new nucleotides to an existing strand of DNA...
design, and sequence alignment. - ArrayStar is a package for statistical and graphical analysis of gene expression and regulation, using microarrayDNA microarrayA DNA microarray is a collection of microscopic DNA spots attached to a solid surface. Scientists use DNA microarrays to measure the expression levels of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to genotype multiple regions of a genome...
and RNA-SeqRNA-SeqRNA-seq, also called "Whole Transcriptome Shotgun Sequencing" and dubbed "a revolutionary tool for transcriptomics", refers to the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies to sequence cDNA in order to get information about a sample's RNA content, a technique that is quickly becoming...
data. - GenVision is a graphic design program for displaying biological data, it works both as a standalone application and as a plug-in for Adobe IllustratorAdobe IllustratorAdobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor developed and marketed by Adobe Systems. Illustrator is similar in scope, intended market, and functionality to its competitors, CorelDraw, Xara Designer Pro and Macromedia FreeHand....
. - SeqMan NGen is a sequence assembly program for large scale data from next generation sequencers such as IlluminaIllumina (company)Illumina, Inc. is a company incorporated in April 1998 that develops, manufactures and markets integrated systems for the analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using its technologies, the company provides a line of products and services that serve the sequencing, genotyping and...
and 454454 Life Sciences454 Life Sciences, is a biotechnology company based in Branford, Connecticut. It is a subsidiary of Roche, and specializes in high-throughput DNA sequencing.-History and Major Achievements:...
.