biopython-bio
Bioinformatics operations via Biopython. Use when: user asks about DNA/protein sequences, BLAST, or PDB structures. NOT for: clinical genomics or variant calling pipelines.
Best use case
biopython-bio is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Bioinformatics operations via Biopython. Use when: user asks about DNA/protein sequences, BLAST, or PDB structures. NOT for: clinical genomics or variant calling pipelines.
Teams using biopython-bio should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/biopython-bio/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How biopython-bio Compares
| Feature / Agent | biopython-bio | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Bioinformatics operations via Biopython. Use when: user asks about DNA/protein sequences, BLAST, or PDB structures. NOT for: clinical genomics or variant calling pipelines.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
Related Guides
SKILL.md Source
# Biopython Bio
Bioinformatics operations using Biopython.
## When to Use
- Reading/writing sequence files (FASTA, GenBank)
- Running BLAST searches (local or remote NCBI)
- Sequence alignment and manipulation
- Parsing PDB protein structures
- Phylogenetic tree construction
- Querying NCBI Entrez databases
## When NOT to Use
- Clinical genomics or variant calling (use GATK, bcftools)
- RNA-seq differential expression (use DESeq2, edgeR)
- Genome assembly (use SPAdes, Canu)
- Molecular dynamics simulations (use GROMACS, OpenMM)
## Sequence Reading and Writing
```python
from Bio import SeqIO
from Bio.Seq import Seq
from Bio.SeqRecord import SeqRecord
for record in SeqIO.parse('sequences.fasta', 'fasta'):
print(f"{record.id}: {len(record.seq)} bp")
# Write FASTA
records = [SeqRecord(Seq('ATGCGATCGATCG'), id='seq1', description='example')]
SeqIO.write(records, 'output.fasta', 'fasta')
```
## Sequence Manipulation
```python
from Bio.Seq import Seq
from Bio.SeqUtils import gc_fraction, molecular_weight
dna = Seq('ATGCGATCGATCGATCG')
rev_comp = dna.reverse_complement()
protein = dna.translate()
gc = gc_fraction(dna)
mw = molecular_weight(dna, seq_type='DNA')
```
## BLAST Searches
```python
from Bio.Blast import NCBIWWW, NCBIXML
result_handle = NCBIWWW.qblast('blastn', 'nt', 'ATGCGATCGATCGATCG')
for record in NCBIXML.parse(result_handle):
for aln in record.alignments:
for hsp in aln.hsps:
if hsp.expect < 1e-10:
print(f"{aln.title[:60]}, E={hsp.expect}")
```
## Pairwise Alignment
```python
from Bio import Align
aligner = Align.PairwiseAligner()
aligner.mode = 'global'
aligner.match_score = 2
aligner.mismatch_score = -1
best = aligner.align('ATCGATCGATCG', 'ATCAATCAATCG')[0]
print(best, f"Score: {best.score}")
```
## PDB Structure Parsing
```python
from Bio.PDB import PDBParser, PDBList
structure = PDBParser(QUIET=True).get_structure('prot', 'structure.pdb')
for chain in structure[0]:
for res in chain:
if res.id[0] == ' ' and 'CA' in res:
print(f"{res.resname} {res.id[1]}: {res['CA'].coord}")
```
## Entrez Queries and Phylogenetics
```python
from Bio import Entrez, Phylo, AlignIO
from Bio.Phylo.TreeConstruction import DistanceCalculator, DistanceTreeConstructor
Entrez.email = 'your.email@example.com' # Required by NCBI
handle = Entrez.esearch(db='pubmed', term='CRISPR AND 2025[pdat]', retmax=5)
record = Entrez.read(handle)
# Phylogenetics from alignment
aln = AlignIO.read('aligned.fasta', 'fasta')
tree = DistanceTreeConstructor().nj(DistanceCalculator('identity').get_distance(aln))
Phylo.draw_ascii(tree)
```
## Quick One-liner
```bash
python3 -c "
from Bio.Seq import Seq
dna = Seq('ATGAAAGCTTGA')
print(f'Protein: {dna.translate()}, RevComp: {dna.reverse_complement()}')
"
```
## Best Practices
1. Always set `Entrez.email` before NCBI queries.
2. Respect NCBI rate limits: max 3 requests/second without API key.
3. Use `QUIET=True` in PDB parser to suppress warnings.
4. Check sequence type before operations like `translate()`.
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