I’m very familiar with gene sequencing. It’s very expensive on two scales, the capital investment, and the cost-per-sample.
An FBI-type STR identity check can cost $100, but whole-genome sequencing is very expensive. It’s expensive to reun the sequence, and takes a lot of computer muscle to turn the raw data into a sequence. The Whitehead Institute in Massachusetts was a pioneer in whole genome sequencing.
I’m involved in a project that uses DNA sequences to identify counterfeits. It uses whole-genome sequencing as part of setting up the anti-pirate code, which is then verified using simple qPCR. Some of the project looks at plant sequences to see if a farmer is using hybrid seeds without a license, and it costs!
Well, you obviously know far more than me about the topic.
And I am sure you would agree that the technology is advancing enormously - almost on a daily basis.
I am familiar with PCR and thought about buying a kit, but then I couldn’t figure out what to do with like a gallon of my DNA!!
;-)