# Biology Biopython

> Bioinformatics with Biopython for sequence manipulation, file parsing, BLAST, and phylogenetics. Use when working with DNA/RNA/protein sequences or biological databases.

- Skill: `enuno/biology-biopython` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add enuno/biology-biopython`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/enuno/biology-biopython/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: enuno (https://skillmd.com/u/enuno)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/enuno/biology-biopython

---


## Biopython Bioinformatics Best Practice

### Sequence Manipulation
1. Create sequences: `from Bio.Seq import Seq; seq = Seq("ATGCGA")`
2. Complement: `seq.complement()`; Reverse complement: `seq.reverse_complement()`
3. Transcription: `seq.transcribe()` (DNA to RNA)
4. Translation: `seq.translate()` (DNA/RNA to protein)
5. GC content: `from Bio.SeqUtils import gc_fraction; gc_fraction(seq)`
6. Molecular weight: `from Bio.SeqUtils import molecular_weight`

### File Parsing (SeqIO)
1. Read FASTA: `for rec in SeqIO.parse("file.fasta", "fasta"): ...`
2. Read GenBank: `for rec in SeqIO.parse("file.gb", "genbank"): ...`
3. Read single record: `rec = SeqIO.read("file.fasta", "fasta")`
4. Write sequences: `SeqIO.write(records, "output.fasta", "fasta")`
5. Convert formats: `SeqIO.convert("input.gb", "genbank", "output.fasta", "fasta")`
6. Index large files: `idx = SeqIO.index("large.fasta", "fasta")` for random access

### BLAST Operations
1. Online BLAST: `from Bio.Blast import NCBIWWW; result = NCBIWWW.qblast("blastn", "nt", seq)`
2. Parse results: `from Bio.Blast import NCBIXML; records = NCBIXML.parse(result)`
3. Local BLAST: run via subprocess, parse XML output with NCBIXML
4. Always set `Entrez.email` before any NCBI access
5. Filter results by e-value (typically < 1e-5) and coverage

### NCBI Database Access (Entrez)
1. Always set email: `Entrez.email = "your@email.com"`
2. Search: `handle = Entrez.esearch(db="pubmed", term="query")`
3. Fetch records: `handle = Entrez.efetch(db="nucleotide", id="ID", rettype="fasta")`
4. Use API key for higher rate limits (10 req/s vs 3 req/s)
5. Respect NCBI rate limits; add delays between batch requests

### Phylogenetics (Bio.Phylo)
1. Read trees: `from Bio import Phylo; tree = Phylo.read("tree.nwk", "newick")`
2. Draw trees: `Phylo.draw(tree)` or `Phylo.draw_ascii(tree)`
3. Supported formats: newick, nexus, phyloxml
4. Traverse clades: `for clade in tree.find_clades(): ...`
5. Calculate distances: `tree.distance(clade1, clade2)`

### Structure Analysis (Bio.PDB)
1. Parse PDB: `parser = PDBParser(); structure = parser.get_structure("id", "file.pdb")`
2. Hierarchy: Structure > Model > Chain > Residue > Atom
3. Get atoms: iterate through `structure.get_atoms()`
4. Calculate distances: use atom coordinate vectors
5. For mmCIF files: use `MMCIFParser()` instead of `PDBParser()`

### Common Pitfalls
1. Always handle `SeqIO.parse` as an iterator — it exhausts after one pass
2. Check sequence alphabet compatibility before operations
3. Large files: use `SeqIO.index()` not `SeqIO.to_dict()` to avoid memory issues
4. Set proper timeout for remote BLAST queries (can take minutes)
5. Validate parsed data — missing annotations are common in public databases