I found this DIY tutorial and wondering if any of you built something similar.
I would like to use it with markers to identify cannabis sex in seedling at week 2-3. I guess it would be also possible to identify hermafroditism which could become extremely important while breeding with pure sativas.
Wondering how much could be used in breeding programmes? And if other type of analysis could be done with this devise.
I found a kit done in Switzerland for €99, but I guess I have an Arduino Uno somewhere and this seems the cheapest system.
You can use pcr to check for genetic markers and genes. But you have to have the right reagents, which is the hard part. Reagents are very specific to the nucleotide sequence of the DNA you are checking for, which premade templates are limited for cannabis. They also need to be stored in a cold environment. The lab I worked in would keep them in a -40° freezer and I had to keep them on ice when I was working with them. You also have to be very careful to prevent cross contamination when working with DNA.
Yes, I’ve seen the sex determination kits but templates for primers of genes of interest might be harder to find. There are certain websites where you can look up primers for genes but I’d have to look for it.
For THC, it would tell if there were THC and CBD synthases but due to other genetic and environmental factors, it wouldn’t tell you what the percentage would be on bud, but maybe a general range.
It would be a good tool to look for something like pm resistant varieties. Or if a plant has the genetics for certain terpenes/VOCs or cannabinoids without flowering it out.
But PCR are only the technique to amplified DNA… If u wanna read the DNA u will need a electrophoresis equip and if i’m not wrong need to an UV light (depends the dye that u will use to dye the DNA amplified sample) to see the results in the gel…
Why dont use a electric water heating resistence to heat the water? I don’t understand why a lamp to do it… If u got the chip to control all the temp probably will work better…
SCAR118 and MADC2 are two examples of primers markers for cannabis gene Y identification…but I guess you are perfectly correct and are difficult to find.
Initially I thought to spot a web page ( IDL,ILD or similar) with affordable prices, but I guess was something more for other specimens. I found something online but very expensive ( +$250 and no idea how many samples you can do).
Would be very nice to have home DIY lab to test genetics and quality as we grow cannabis at home.
