MultiPrimer: software for multiplex primer design.

Abstract This study presents a novel application, MultiPrimer, to assist users to design multiplex PCR primers. MultiPrimer adopts an algorithm based on a genetic algorithm and can efficiently solve the multi-objective optimisation problem. A match pattern model is proposed to speed up examination of the specificity constraint. MultiPrimer is able to find a set of primer pairs simultaneously for a set of gene family sequences and multiple targets for a single cDNA sequence. A public version of the MultiPrimer software is available from http://edith.cse.nsysu.edu.tw/new/software/MultiPrimer.htm.