Unique DNA Portraits

[science_spot]

I don't sign up for mailing lists very often, but this morning I did, for a chance to win a $200 gift card I could use to get my own DNA portrait.  I am not sure my husband would see the beauty in this design, but as a scientist who has run hundreds of DNA and protein gels, I am attracted to it in a very weird way!!  I am sure many others out there share my love for this really cool, unique art.

The picture below is from funkyhomedecor, but there is only one company that is leading the industry in personalized DNA art - dna11.  They own the trademark name DNA Portraits.

 

This beautiful work comes in a variety of colors and sizes.  If you don't like the idea of giving up your DNA,  you could order your personalized, unique fingerprint art or your kiss!  Or use the DNA of your beloved pet.  They usually use a check swab you do yourself to collect the DNA, but they can also do it from a hair clipping (for an increased cost, I assume).  Check out their website to see more color options and the kiss and fingerprint art. 

If you are concerned with what else they can do with the DNA, I understand your concerns.  I can see from the images that there are smears - this is DNA degredation.  The DNA is not really high quality, which is fine for making cute pictures, but not really good for cloning or identifying indiviuals from a database.  I can't promise they won't keep the DNA on file and use it many years in the future when techniques are advanced, but for now, this low quality DNA isn't good for much in the laboratory, other than art.

Would you sign up for their mailing list to try to win a $200 gift card?  Would you make a full price purchase anyway?  If so, who's DNA would you like to have captured in an image?  I would probablly get my dog, Tela's DNA artwork done, in black & white because she is black and I love how striking those images are!

Tonya

AKA sunmoonstars

The Science Spot

 

*disclosure statement - I am in no way affiliated with this company, nor do I make any money off your purchase of art from this company.  It is something cool I found this morning because my company is giving away one portrait to one of our customers this month.  The customer needs to update their profile on our website to be entered in the random drawing.  I thought the art was cool and wanted to share it with you all!

[Momforhealth]

Jul. 2, 2009 at 10:42 AM

That is so Sci-Fi.

 

[PaxMommy]

Jul. 7, 2009 at 3:27 PM

So cool! I love this combination of art & science. I'd love to see science inspiring art like this more...and possibly making science more 'normal' and less intimidating to the masses.