The DNA Machine Grow a Garden is a powerful tool for evolving pets and unlocking exclusive dinosaur rewards. Upgrading your DNA Machine not only shortens the trade timer but also grants access to rare Primal Egg pets—making it a must-have feature for serious players. This guide explains every step, from collecting the right prehistoric plants to maximizing your trade profits and understanding when upgrades are worth your investment.
How to Upgrade the DNA Machine in Grow a Garden
The DNA Machine upgrade process revolves around prehistoric plants, which can be found in Ancient Seed packs throughout the game. To upgrade, deliver these plants to the Raptor NPC named Barry, who stands next to the DNA Machine by the Dinosaur Egg stall in the central area.
Upgrade Requirements
There are five upgrade levels, each requiring a set amount of prehistoric plant “weight”:
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Level 1: 40kg
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Level 2: 60kg
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Level 3: 80kg
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Level 4: 100kg
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Level 5: 120kg
After you hand over enough ancient plants to fill the blue progress bar, the DNA Machine upgrades automatically. Each upgrade stage will also visually change the machine, eventually turning it into a large green dinosaur head with glowing red eyes.
Effects of Upgrading the DNA Machine
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Trade Timer Reduction: Each upgrade reduces the waiting time for trading pets or hatching Dinosaur and Primal Eggs, so you receive your rewards faster.
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Unlocks Primal Egg Access: Higher upgrades (especially level 5) enable trading for Primal Eggs, which hatch into powerful dino pets.
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Enhanced Machine Appearance: Visual changes signify your progress—making it easier to show off your upgraded lab to friends.
How to Trade Pets in the DNA Machine
Once upgraded, use the DNA Machine by talking to Graham, the trade NPC beside the machine. Here’s how trading works:
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Select a pet you want to trade.
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Initiate the trade with Graham. The process is random: you might receive a Dinosaur Egg, Primal Egg, or another pet as your reward.
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Wait for the timer to finish (reduced by each machine upgrade).
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Claim your prize from the DNA Machine when the timer ends.
Note: Trading is always random, so while upgrading increases efficiency and options, the outcome can’t be predicted or chosen.
When Should You Upgrade the DNA Machine?
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Upgrade early if you want faster trades and access to Primal Egg pets.
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Prioritize upgrades if you have lots of extra prehistoric plants and pet duplicates.
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Skip upgrades if you’re focused on crafting Primal Eggs manually or if you play very actively and don’t mind the base timer.
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Casual players will still benefit from at least a few upgrade levels, especially for timer reduction.
Pro Tips for DNA Machine Efficiency
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Farm Ancient Seed packs regularly for a steady supply of prehistoric plants.
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Trade pets you don’t need—using the machine is often the best way to turn extras into rare pets.
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Max out upgrades if your goal is to complete the dino pet collection or minimize downtime between trades.
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Watch for visual changes: A fully-upgraded DNA Machine is hard to miss and serves as a status symbol in the game.
Final Thoughts
The DNA Machine Grow a Garden is the heart of the dino mutation and trading system. By gathering prehistoric plants, upgrading the machine through Barry, and using Graham for pet trades, you unlock faster rewards and access to the coveted Primal Egg pets. Choose your upgrade strategy based on your playstyle—whether you’re a collector, trader, or just want faster results—and enjoy the full potential of the Grow a Garden DNA Machine.