Initially, Multiple Sequence Format (MSF) was the multiple sequence alignment format of
the Wisconsin Package (WP) or GCG (Genetic Computer Group). This package is a suite of over 130
sequence analysis programs for database searching, secondary structure prediction
or sequence alignment. Presently, numerous multiple sequence alignment editors
(Jalview and GeneDoc for example) can read and write MSF files.
MSF file displays several specificities:
a header containing sequence identifiers and characteristics (length, check and weight).
a separator symbolized by 2 slashes (//).
sequences of identifiers, displayed by consecutive blocks.