The genealogy world is abuzz with information about DNA. Until now, you have had to swab your cheek and send the sample off to some distant laboratory and then wait for the results. No longer! You can perform your own DNA analysis at home.
No, this is not a joke. The Spartan DC Personal DNA Analyzer is available on the market right now. Spartan Bioscience Inc. of Ottawa, Ontario, is now selling portable, real-time DNA devices that are designed for "on-demand, non-batched applications." The 9-pound desktop-sized device will analyze four DNA samples at a time.
Laboratories typically are geared to process hundreds of samples at once, and results may not be available for days. The Spartan DC Personal DNA Analyzer is advertised as the solution for those times when you do not want to wait for the results. The company claims that the device produces DNA results on demand. The personal DNA analyzer is compared to DNA laboratory equipment in much the same way that desktop computers are compared to large mainframes: the desktop-sized Personal DNA Analyzer should be the device of choice when you need to accomplish a smaller task and need to do so quickly. This device produces results in 30 minutes. The company also claims that you can learn to use it in ten minutes.
Does this thing really work? I looked at the technical specifications and, to be blunt, I didn't understand a word. The online brochure refers to SYBR Green, TaqMan, fluorophores (FAM, TET, etc.), excitation source, and other technical buzzwords that I do not understand. I'll leave it to the experts to decide if this small system has what it takes. Full technical specifications and the complete user's manual can be downloaded from the manufacturer's web site.
For "only" $14,995 U.S. dollars, you can take a Spartan DC Personal DNA Analyzer to your next family reunion and start checking for those "non-paternity events."
Full information is available at http://www.spartanbio.com.
I think I'll wait until it's the size of a glucometer and I can hang it off my keychain and is sold as an impulse item in the checkout lane at Wal-mart.
I suppose, if this works, it will be a must have for small-town crimelabs everywhere. Instead of sending those DNA samples off to Mt. Pilot, Barney can run the tests right there at the jail in Mayberry!
Posted by: Jason Presley | June 24, 2007 at 05:07 PM
This sounds pretty neat. Some questions:
1- Does it go beyond mere haplotyping?
2- If so, have many Alleles are measured?
3- Does it consider Autosomal DNA?
4- How deeply does it analyse Mitochondrial DNA?
5- Can it generate a Phylogenetic Tree?
If such a device could handle what the larger ones do in a matter of half an hour, the limitation of 4 samples should not be a problem. I can see this as a wonderful tool at Genealogy Conferences and Cruises. (BIG hint) I would pay $100 for the above listed features and I'm sure most would, too. And after 150 of us, it breaks even.
Thanks for sharing!
Happy Dae.
Posted by: Happy Dae | June 24, 2007 at 06:20 PM
Only $14,995. Cute Dick.
Posted by: | June 25, 2007 at 04:36 AM
Beam me up Scotty! How long before your local genealogical society runs a fund raiser to acquire their own DNA analyzer?
The advent of garage biology is at hand. The manipulation of genomes are no longer confined to the big players. Will Ancestry soon sell them or will we be able to buy one from WalMart.
I won't rush out to buy one just yet, the price is bound to drop.
It just gets more exciting.
Posted by: Bryan Gidley | June 25, 2007 at 08:41 AM
Dick---My husband who certainly does NOT share my avid genealogy interest, got a
gigantic laugh out of this article.(at least he read something about genealogy) To what lengths will we not go?
Think I'll wait before I buy.--Judy
Posted by: Judy Adams | June 25, 2007 at 10:42 AM
As a former chemist/toxicologist who has done PCR you sort of misinterpreted what this machine is. This is a machine to measure DNA quanitities after each PCR cycle. This is not for doing DNA analysis for genealogy etc. But having said that you could probably buy an appliedbio sequencer and a gel setup off a used lab equipment web site for a pretty good price. Then you need to analyze the sequence information.
As you state "I didn't understand a word". So very true.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Liddil | June 25, 2007 at 12:40 PM
I sure will wait for the price to come down. That's 3 years income on SS.
Posted by: Sue Jones | June 25, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Dick, you neglected to mention the free iPod Nano with every purchase ...
Posted by: Lawrence | June 25, 2007 at 01:19 PM
Thanks for the info, Jim. That's the exact kind of feedback I was hoping for when I wrote, "I'll leave it to the experts to decide if this small system has what it takes." Thanks for being the expert.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | June 25, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Nobody has commented on your remark (no doubt tongue-in-cheek)about going to a family reunion and checking for non-paternity events. However, some insensitive bozo is sure to try it some time in the future as the technology gets easier and cheaper. What a lovely way to spoil a party!
I'm all for DNA studies, but a little diplomacy & respect for privacy is in order.
Posted by: Eileen Phelps | July 02, 2007 at 03:17 PM