Python utility function: Given a path tries to parse a FASTA file. Returns an iterator which yields a (name, sequence) tuple

parse_fasta.py

def parse_fasta(path):
    """Given a path tries to parse a fasta file. Returns an iterator which
    yields a (name, sequence) tuple"""
    with open(path) as handle:
        name = sequence = ""
        for line in handle:
            line = line.strip()
            if line.startswith(">"):
                if name:
                    yield name, sequence
                name = line[1:]
                sequence = ""
                continue
            sequence += line
        # yield the last sequence
        if name and sequence:
            yield name, sequence