[DIYbio] Re: Creating Luminous Plants - Amateur

Ok, now I seem to be even more lost than before.  I found this site to help me gain some understanding (education-portal.com) which has video classes of bio and genetics.  Suppose I wanted to specifically make grasses (festuca boulder blue) and to use the dinoflagellate luciferase gene (lux operon?).  Now, would I have to synthesize the dinoflagellates still, or could I just purchase luciferin and renila luciferase?  I watched the video on how to extract dna from strawberries.  I suppose I could use this same process to extract the dna of the grasses and dinoflagellates.  Now how would I be able to map or sequence it to get the specific part(s) that I need?  Arnold said that I would need to cut the DNA, yet I'm having trouble finding a video or information how to specifically do that.  The same for inserting DNA.  From what I saw on a few GM videos is they cut seeds and shoot them up with a gene gun.  What type(s) of equipment would I need to complete this process? 

I want to apologize for asking you guys to explain this and make it dummy proof for me, but I promise I am trying to take the effort to expand my overall bio knowledge.  I'm a big DIYer and if I can figure out how to do this on at least one species of plant I would love to post a full video set (in dummy proof style) showing how to do this within a reasonable budget so other gardeners can make their backyards unique and beautiful like I intend to. 

Before I even try to make an attempt to have the slightest clue that I know what i'm talking about, or that I belong in the forum, I don't.  While I've always been fascinated by science, my education in the field of bio is limited to a level 100 Biology course.  However, since the movie "Avatar" came out I've had an interest in flourescent plants.  Every now and then I'll refer back to google revising my search to look for bioluminous plants or any modifications that are currently on the market to apply your own.  While Ideally I would like my garden plants to emit light constantly, or at a pulse like a firefly; Yet a night-time only sollution seems more achievable.  I would love to see plants or grasses in my garden illuminate at night.  The simplest sollution would be to paint the plants with UV ink, but I don't see this option to be practical. 

 

When I look into the field of genetic engineering WAY too much graduate level information comes up that I can't decipher.  I have no problem reading a book or two to understand the concepts involved in a project like this, but I prefer more trial and error methods. 

 

I did find something that looks like it might be worth a try, but I would like to get a second opinion first.  I saw this link human-plant hybrid of a youtube video that uses human hair and fern seeds to make the fern react to touch.  It just seems that this video may be fake. 

 

After looking through various organisms that have bioluminous properties, I was wondering about dinoflagellates http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinoflagellate and whether it's possible using this method above to incorporate luminous properties into something like a fern seed.  Seems a little way out of my education level to contemplate. 

 

If ANYONE on this board could give me any useful advise it would be much oblidged.  Im unsure on what terms to search for, what books would be helpful, what equipment I would need.  I could spend up to 1k, or maybe 2k on equipment AT MOST, but other than that I can't afford to finance the project.  I've been looking at DNA synthesizers, Gene Guns, and other really expensive equipment that seems a little more over the top than what I may need, but still pretty cool stuff.  Maybe I could start with plants and work my way up to mutating my own team of X-Men!!!MUAHAHAH (sorry, lol)