I'm Chad Ternes, a plant scientist.

I help cannabis operators figure out whether they actually need tissue culture before they spend on it, and I work as an expert witness in genetics and IP disputes.

PhD in plant science. Former biotech patent analyst.

TC ConsultingExpert Witness

  • Tissue Culture & Lab Consulting

    Tissue culture gets oversold. The kit companies want the sale, the nurseries want the contract, and nearly everyone advising you on it also sells it. I don't. So you get a straight read: whether TC actually fits your goals, and how much you need if it does. Sometimes that's a small clean room and better sanitation. Sometimes the right amount of tissue culture is none.

    See How It Works 

  • Cannabis Genetics Expert Witness

    When a case turns on cultivar identity or genetic lineage, cultivation experience isn't enough. I analyze the data and explain what it does and does not support, in deposition and at trial. Genetic evidence doesn't replace IP protection. It's what makes it enforceable.

    Learn More About Legal Support 
  • Your IP Doesn't Enforce Itself

    Your IP Doesn't Enforce Itself

    Owning cannabis IP and enforcing it are two different jobs. Why patents fall short, why PVP is off the table, and how contract law actually protects clones.

    Your IP Doesn't Enforce Itself

    Owning cannabis IP and enforcing it are two different jobs. Why patents fall short, why PVP is off the table, and how contract law actually protects clones.

  • How DNA Mutations Become Established in Cannabis Cultivars | Somaclonal Variation & IP

    How DNA Mutations Become Established in Cannabi...

    Unlike animals, plants don't separate germline from somatic cells early in development. That difference explains how mutations spread through clones and shape cultivar genetic identity.

    How DNA Mutations Become Established in Cannabi...

    Unlike animals, plants don't separate germline from somatic cells early in development. That difference explains how mutations spread through clones and shape cultivar genetic identity.

  • Where Do Cannabis DNA Mutations Come From? The Biology Behind Genetic Fingerprints

    Where Do Cannabis DNA Mutations Come From? The ...

    SNPs and indels don't appear randomly. They're scars left in DNA by copying errors and environmental damage. Understanding their origin is key to understanding cannabis genetic fingerprinting.

    Where Do Cannabis DNA Mutations Come From? The ...

    SNPs and indels don't appear randomly. They're scars left in DNA by copying errors and environmental damage. Understanding their origin is key to understanding cannabis genetic fingerprinting.

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Background


Over 15 years in plant molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. Research positions at Michigan State, Oklahoma State, and Colorado State. Former plant geneticist for a Colorado hemp company. Today, I advise a working tissue culture lab and nursery.

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FAQs

Do I even need tissue culture?

Sometimes, no. Tissue culture is a tool, which raises the question: Is it the right tool for the job?

What is a TC Fit Review?

A remote, fixed-price engagement. You lay out your goals and your setup, we work through it on a call or two, and you get a written recommendation: build or don't, and if you build, how much.

Do you set up labs?

Yes, as a separate engagement, quoted per project, since a buildout depends on scale.

What legal cases do you accept as a cannabis expert witness?

I specialize primarily in intellectual property (IP) protection, patent litigation, plant breeder's rights, utility patent disputes, and breach of contract cases involving proprietary genetics or material transfer agreements (MTAs).

Can genetic sequencing prove cultivar identity in court?

Yes. Genetic sequencing provides an objective, biological record of cultivar identity. I help legal teams establish a defensible baseline of identity to prove or disprove unauthorized exploitation.

Do you provide conflict checks before engagement?

Absolutely. Legal teams can initiate a formal conflicts check and request a copy of my current CV and fee schedule directly through the contact form.

Contact Me