def parse_clan_file(clan_list):
    """
    Parses a list of Rfam clan accessions

    clan_list: A plain .txt file containing a list of Rfam Clan Accessions

    return: A list of clan accessions
    """

    fp = open(clan_list, 'r')

    clan_accessions = [x.strip() for x in fp]

    fp.close()

    return clan_accessions