I love hackaday. Gonna read this one. Thanks!
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Anytime, pretty sure one of the hobbiest grade projects did the same thing. Yes there’s a risk of contamination/error but if you’re just playing around for personal learning - little adverse risk…
Theres some big forums on diy sequencing.
The one i built for the dog breeder was a derivative of the openpcr project. https://openpcr.org/ not a full sequencer, but likely more what we need once we’ve figured out which particular genes we need to look at.
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That’s pretty much it mate I think. The marker map would identify the loci for the alleles that define which traits are expressed and also to what degree they are expressed, and so then you sequence all the phenos and only use the ones for back crossing that are a closest fit to what you want…
The trick I guess would be in identifying the exact location for the markers for the specific traits you want, I honestly don’t grasp enough at this point to be able to look at the available marker maps and make head nor ass of it in any detail, idk it’s possible that maybe it takes a bit more than a few days to wrap your head around this stuff 
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No way! You could spend the $1000 and just start breeding! Lol.
Even in just a few hands, think of the stains that could come from it. And add in CRISPER. Just identify what you want, find one that has it, insert and grow! I wonder how specific you could get with things like thc, cbd %
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http://m.genome.cshlp.org/content/early/2018/11/07/gr.242594.118.full.pdf
While we’re on the subject
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Wow that is cool… a person can hack just about anything together!
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Cool, that’s the study for that the data I linked to above, which helps to make sense of a lot… after skimming through that doc, they mention a process called QTL analysis. Quantative Trait Loci analysis, which after a bit of research turns out to be the procedure that maps the location and linking of loci/allells and their relationship to complex trait expression in a phenoptype. So where more than one gene might influence a trait then QTL allows for their identification. Using QTL mapping and sequencing of phenotype allows you to be able to identify the loci responsible for the phenotypical variation of the genotype… obviously being able to tell in advance what traits a given pheno is going to express would save a truck load of time and guesswork for selecting which plants to backcross with to fix the traits you want…
Anyway… some light reading 
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Wild article. I don’t understand most of it, but this seems important:
A previous study (Weiblen et al. 2015) used QTL analysis in C. sativa to associate 121 genetic markers with total cannabinoid content and THCA/CBDA ratio. Outside of THCAS/CBDAS, this study identified only one locus displaying a strong association with total cannabinoid content, at a distance of ~1.2 cM between the trait and the marker. In our genetic map, this locus (marker ANUCS501) is linked to aromatic prenyltransferase (AP), which catalyzes the production of CBGA, the substrate of THCAS, CBDAS and CBCAS, with a similar recombination frequency (2.1 cM in PK; 4cM in FN). This observation suggests that either polymorphisms or differential regulation of AP contributes to cannabinoid production, presumably by controlling substrate concentration for THCAS and CBDAS.
If I’m understanding, the actual gene markers that a related to THC and CBD production are numerous and all over the map. However, the marker that is related to production of the precursor molecule (CBGA) is singular? That seems like a pretty big finding.
I wonder if that means there’s a simple PCR & Gel Electrophoresis method for finding this marker.
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This study can be found here… it does help to fill in some of the wtf elements of the more recent studies, well it did for me anyway
https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.13562
I gotta have a crack at this…
Arduino PCR (thermal Cycler) to allow the testing a DNA sample for a specific gene. This may have been posted previously in discussion of identifying males/females early but I figure it’s worth a repost in this context.
and diy gel electrophoresis machine to be able to visualize the results which is kidna important…
Also discovered biotech companies already in on the gold rush…
And aritlcle on haploid induction in plants for gene doubling to produce diploid inducing variants to use in breeding line to produce genetically stable lines in a single generation.
And finally an article that I found really cool on a technique called “reverse breeding” a evolving plant breeding technique designed to directly produce parental lines for any heterozygous plant. i.e reverse engineering genetically stable parent lines from their offspring in one generation.
Happy reading all 
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https://hackteria.org/wiki/Wild_OpenPCR#MyPersonalOpenPCR
That mypersonalopenpcr (that noticeably doesn’t appear shared/open…) Seems like a lovely template, wish files were posted. The 40mm peltier if you didn’t know are easily found on amazon don’t need to scrounge a mini fridge.
The MacGyver sequencing - for some reason i thought it would be much more intensive…
Where things get helpful is with a easily followed blueprint for the uneducated masses to follow - that provide a meaningful result…
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Ok i take it back.
NinjaPCR v2 will be awesome!
Keep those heaters blocks at temperature then move the samples.
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Lol… I was literally about to post the same thing… here is a link to the project.
You can buy an assemble ready kit from the site above for $499.
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I’m a diy guy, but screw all of that. You can literally just but them from lab excess for way cheaper than the bare parts will cost.
Cheapest option? eBay, govdeals, University auction, etc. I got my 2 PCRs for $15 (for both).
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Hmmm the benefits of being state side! Not so easy down here, they do show up, but yeah not for $15 lol…
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If done simply by switching from heater block to heater block- it could be super cheaply done…
50mm cubed heater blocks… Use e3d style ceramic heater cartridges. Temp sensor would require some thought (not hard just too stoned to look at a datasheet)
Simple back and forth motion side to side like a cr10 x axis… 3 bearings, belt drive, small stepper (like way smaller than a nema17) . Few inches of leadscrew - run 2 limits and small dc motor would work. Magnetic holder to allow a minor deviation without catastrophe…
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Are you currently using them in anger?
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I think this went over my head… but I’ll tell you what does piss this nerd right off. The cost of gels and primers and dyes is TOO DAMN HIGH!
I can only ever find “kits” that have enough to do like 5 samples, at vastly inflated costs. But I can’t buy just bulk sequencing stuff from chemical distributors, because you need a business license or something.
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Did you read the MacGyver technique? They’re using common as dirt methylene blue as a dye.
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I remember having a hard time finding the primers. I know you can use some food grade Agar Agar as well. Do you know if that methylene blue also would work with TLC plates?
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You’re way over my head now lol. I know biohackers have used methylene blue and potassium permanganate as dyes. Both are easily found on amazon and pet stores (aquarium meds)
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