PlasmidLab / Open .dna files for free
A free plasmid editor that opens SnapGene® .dna files
PlasmidLab is a plasmid map and sequence editor for Mac and Windows. It opens .dna files made by SnapGene®, as well as GenBank and FASTA, and an AI agent can plan the cloning on your own sequences.
PlasmidLab is not affiliated with or endorsed by GSL Biotech LLC.
What PlasmidLab does
| Feature | Where in PlasmidLab |
|---|---|
| Open .dna files made by SnapGene® | File > Open, or drop the file on the window |
| Save as .dna, GenBank or FASTA | File > Save As |
| Open EMBL files and Sanger traces (.ab1, .scf) | File > Open |
| Circular and linear maps with features and cut sites | The Map view |
| Restriction enzymes and enzyme sets | Analyze > Choose Enzymes |
| Restriction cloning and ligation | Clone > Cut and Paste, Ligate Fragments |
| Primers and PCR | Annotate > New Primer, Primer Library; Clone > PCR |
| Gibson Assembly®, NEBuilder® HiFi and In-Fusion® designs | Clone > Gibson Assembly®, NEBuilder® HiFi Assembly, In-Fusion® Cloning |
| Golden Gate assembly | Clone > Golden Gate Assembly |
| Gateway® cloning | Clone > Gateway® Cloning |
| TA, GC and TOPO® cloning | Clone > TA or GC Cloning, TOPO® Cloning |
| Site-directed mutagenesis | Clone > Mutagenesis by Primer, Inverse PCR Mutagenesis |
| Simulated agarose gels | Analyze > Simulate a Gel |
| DNA and protein alignments | Analyze > Align Sequences |
| CRISPR guide sites | Analyze > Find CRISPR Sites |
| An AI agent that designs the cloning on your files | The agent panel: 10 free runs per account, then your own Claude, Codex or Grok subscription or API key |
| Price | Free to download and use, on Mac (Apple silicon and Intel) and Windows |
Questions
How do I open a .dna file without SnapGene®?
Install PlasmidLab, then choose File > Open or drop the .dna file on the window. The sequence, map and features open, ready to edit. The file-opening guide walks through it.
Is PlasmidLab free?
Yes. The app is free to download and use. The AI agent includes 10 free runs per account; after that it uses your own Claude, Codex or Grok subscription or API key.
Does it run on Mac and Windows?
Yes. The Mac app runs on Apple silicon and Intel and is signed and notarized by Apple. There is also a Windows installer.
Do my files stay on my computer?
Yes. Files open from and save to your computer, and the editor and cloning tools work offline. Sequences leave your computer only when you use the AI agent or start an online search yourself, such as NCBI BLAST (Analyze > Search NCBI). The agent sends them only to the provider you chose; the free trial goes through PlasmidLab's relay to Anthropic. See the privacy page.