format-conversion

name	format-conversion
description	Convert between sequence file formats (FASTA, FASTQ, GenBank, EMBL) using Biopython Bio.SeqIO. Use when changing file formats or preparing data for different tools.
tool_type	python
primary_tool	Bio.SeqIO

Version Compatibility

Reference examples tested with: BioPython 1.83+, samtools 1.19+

Before using code patterns, verify installed versions match. If versions differ:

• Python: pip show <package> then help(module.function) to check signatures

If code throws ImportError, AttributeError, or TypeError, introspect the installed package and adapt the example to match the actual API rather than retrying.

Format Conversion

"Convert this file to a different format" -> Read records in one format, optionally add missing annotations, and write in the target format.

• Python: SeqIO.convert() for direct conversion, or SeqIO.parse() + SeqIO.write() when modifications are needed (BioPython)
• CLI: seqkit seq (SeqKit) for FASTA/FASTQ; samtools view for SAM/BAM/CRAM

Convert sequence files between formats using Biopython's Bio.SeqIO module.

Required Import

from Bio import SeqIO

Core Function

SeqIO.convert() - Direct Conversion

Convert between formats in a single call. Most efficient method.

count = SeqIO.convert('input.gb', 'genbank', 'output.fasta', 'fasta')
print(f'Converted {count} records')

Parameters:

• in_file - Input filename or handle
• in_format - Input format string
• out_file - Output filename or handle
• out_format - Output format string

Returns: Number of records converted

Common Conversions

From	To	Notes
GenBank	FASTA	Loses annotations, keeps sequence
FASTA	GenBank	Need to add molecule_type
FASTQ	FASTA	Loses quality scores
FASTA	FASTQ	Need to add quality scores
GenBank	EMBL	Usually works directly
Stockholm	FASTA	Alignment to sequences

Code Patterns

Simple Conversion

SeqIO.convert('input.gb', 'genbank', 'output.fasta', 'fasta')

GenBank to FASTA

SeqIO.convert('sequence.gb', 'genbank', 'sequence.fasta', 'fasta')

FASTQ to FASTA (drop quality)

SeqIO.convert('reads.fastq', 'fastq', 'reads.fasta', 'fasta')

FASTA to GenBank (requires molecule_type)

Goal: Convert FASTA to GenBank format, which requires molecule_type annotation.

Approach: Stream records through a generator that injects the missing annotation, then write.

Reference (BioPython 1.83+):

records = SeqIO.parse('input.fasta', 'fasta')
def add_molecule_type(records):
    for record in records:
        record.annotations['molecule_type'] = 'DNA'
        yield record

SeqIO.write(add_molecule_type(records), 'output.gb', 'genbank')

FASTA to FASTQ (add dummy quality)

Goal: Convert FASTA to FASTQ by assigning uniform placeholder quality scores.

Approach: Stream records through a generator that adds phred_quality to each, then write as FASTQ.

Reference (BioPython 1.83+):

def add_quality(records, quality=30):
    for record in records:
        record.letter_annotations['phred_quality'] = [quality] * len(record.seq)
        yield record

records = SeqIO.parse('input.fasta', 'fasta')
SeqIO.write(add_quality(records), 'output.fastq', 'fastq')

Batch Convert Multiple Files

Goal: Convert all files of one format in a directory to another format.

Approach: Glob for input files, apply SeqIO.convert() to each, and report per-file counts.

Reference (BioPython 1.83+):

from pathlib import Path

for gb_file in Path('.').glob('*.gb'):
    fasta_file = gb_file.with_suffix('.fasta')
    count = SeqIO.convert(str(gb_file), 'genbank', str(fasta_file), 'fasta')
    print(f'{gb_file.name}: {count} records')

Convert with Modifications

from Bio.Seq import Seq
from Bio.SeqRecord import SeqRecord

def uppercase_record(rec):
    return SeqRecord(rec.seq.upper(), id=rec.id, description=rec.description)

records = SeqIO.parse('input.fasta', 'fasta')
modified = (uppercase_record(rec) for rec in records)
SeqIO.write(modified, 'output.fasta', 'fasta')

Alignment Format Conversion

from Bio import AlignIO

AlignIO.convert('alignment.sto', 'stockholm', 'alignment.phy', 'phylip')

Format Compatibility Matrix

Can convert directly (no modifications needed):

• GenBank <-> EMBL
• FASTA -> any format (may need annotations added)
• Any format -> FASTA (always works, may lose data)
• FASTQ -> FASTA

Requires adding data:

• FASTA -> FASTQ (need quality scores)
• FASTA -> GenBank (need molecule_type)

May lose data:

• GenBank -> FASTA (loses features, annotations)
• FASTQ -> FASTA (loses quality scores)
• Any rich format -> FASTA

Common Errors

Error	Cause	Solution
ValueError: missing molecule_type	FASTA to GenBank	Add molecule_type annotation
ValueError: missing quality scores	FASTA to FASTQ	Add phred_quality to letter_annotations
KeyError: 'phred_quality'	Wrong FASTQ variant	Try 'fastq-sanger', 'fastq-illumina'

Decision Tree

Converting formats?
├── Simple conversion (no data changes)?
│   └── Use SeqIO.convert() directly
├── Need to add annotations?
│   └── Parse, modify records, then write
├── Need to transform sequences?
│   └── Parse, apply transformation, then write
└── Multiple files?
    └── Loop with SeqIO.convert() or batch generator

Related Skills

• read-sequences - Parse sequences for custom conversion logic
• write-sequences - Write converted sequences with modifications
• batch-processing - Convert multiple files at once
• compressed-files - Handle compressed input/output during conversion
• alignment-files/sam-bam-basics - For SAM/BAM/CRAM conversion, use samtools view