The Bento Lab is more a general DNA analysis device….[Y]ou could use it to look at your own genome and see whether you have a genotype that allows you to detect bitterness…Or you can figure out your blood type. It could be used to look at genetic diseases to see, for instance, whether they are genotype-related. You could use it to potentially identify a species – so, is there horse meat in your hamburger? What type of mushroom are you looking at? Is this the right bird that you’re looking for?
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The striking thing is the Bento Lab’s size. It’s about the size of a laptop computer.
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[O]ur goal was to design this to be incredibly robust, partly because we were making it for an amateur-user, who might get it as a chemistry set for Christmas…I think it’s necessary to educate…[If kids] at least have that understanding and that learning, [they] can also create a culture of responsibility.The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: For scientists and students: Why the mobile DNA kit Bento Lab is not just for Christmas
