Feature#to_gff method improved for adding any other stuff from the database

gistfile1.txt

  def to_gff(extra = {})
    #arr should be hash of keys and values to add to the group attributes
    #can't use symbols as keys
    arr = extra.to_a
    
    gff = Bio::GFF::GFF3::Record.new(
    seqid = Reference.find(self.reference_id).name,
    source = self.source,
    feature = self.feature,
    start = self.start,
    stop = self.end,
    score = self.score,
    strand = self.strand,
    phase = self.phase,
    attributes = JSON.parse(self.group)
    )
    
    ##any extra attributes to be added to the group field done in here
    ##eg the created by edited by stuff
    gff.attributes << ['gfu_id', self.id.to_s]
    gff.attributes += arr
    gff.to_s
    
  end