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Comment by rezistik | Hacker News Reader

There is a lot that can be done to optimize plants genetically, including a ton that can be done with selective breeding. I'm working on a start up doing selective breeding software and it's amazing how much variety is available that isn't being tapped into yet. We're starting with cannabis breeding before moving into other crops but there is a ton of room for improvement in genetic stock.

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Hey, I'd be very interested to hear more about this! Do you have a newsletter or something like that?

I had the idea that there is so much untapped potential in selective breeding of cannabis after reading about various terpenes and their medicinal properties.

The market's just been breeding for ridiculous THC levels (I daresay harmful levels - unfortunately I know several heavy smokers who have been institutionalized) without the CBD to balance it and without exploring the role of the other chemicals.

So I'm happy to hear that this is changing! (Like that news of a 15% CBD 1% THC strain from a few years back)

I wish you the best of luck!

To clarify on the last bit, I was thinking it would be great if the genetics from the new high CBD strains could be brought into the mainstream by crossbreeding with popular strains.

My interest in this has to do with the idea that in the 1970s, CBD and THC levels were both around 1%. THC has skyrocketed but CBD has not.

THC is known to trigger psychosis and paranoia in sensitive individuals, while CBD reduces anxiety and was found to be as effective as other anti-psychotics.

TL;DR too much sativa not enough indica :)

Hey, we don't yet could you email me patrick@growflora.co ? I'd love to talk about it more. We're onboarding some of our first breeders this upcoming week and have a grow journal beta out in the open.

nice to hear but more relevant to the thread would be info on precise photo active radiation spectra. The absorption is easily meassured putting a leaf under a through light spectroscope, but narrowing down the actually active spectrum is a different matter.

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