[DIYbio] Re: DNA sequencer recommendations?

Hey all,

I am buying a used DNA sequencer. I'd like to spend somewhere between $500 to $5000 on it. I'd also prefer something local to or within roadtripping distance to Austin, Texas, but that's not as important to me. Does anyone have particular model recommendations?

My first idea was to buy the exact model as the socal-diybio group and get an ABI Prism 310. Alex was telling me the other day that their sequencer was a gift, and that's why it's in such rough shape. The advantage of me buying the same model is that I could conceivably help troubleshoot their problems and we'd be able to share whatever experience back and forth. It's the "neighborly" thing to do I guess. In this scenario, I'd have to wait for one to show up on eBay or at a liquidation auction somewhere.

Here's the ABI Prism 310 docs/specs:
marketing: https://products.appliedbiosystems.com/ab/en/US/adirect/ab;jsessionid=ys2cN8pMZ2kBjLv3nlWHZphplKHjkhtznKbp2vMQjQJkblgRws29!-946835675?cmd=catNavigate2&catID=600525&tab=DetailInfo
specs: https://products.appliedbiosystems.com/ab/en/US/adirect/ab?cmd=catNavigate2&catID=600525&tab=TechSpec
ANs: https://products.appliedbiosystems.com/ab/en/US/adirect/ab?cmd=catNavigate2&catID=600525&tab=Literature

My second idea was to go see if Raymond could get a DIYbio enthusiast deal with Illumina ;-). This will primarily be used either at the local hackerspace or my hangout spaces, for education / self-enrichment / global world domination and scheming thereof. So something like 50 to 150 bp read lengths would be more than acceptable for my purposes, especially if the chemistry isn't proprietary for running the machine.

I figure $5k is a nice upper bound; somewhere between $1k and $4k I hope to be able to buy a operational sequencer with documentation. I am not at all eager to spend three or four months fixing up a junker.

So anyway, does anyone have recommendations for a DNA sequencer in this budget range? Bonus points for anything that is easily moddable, i.e. with firmware I can flash/crack.

- Bryan
http://heybryan.org/
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