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This is really cool. I've been looking for DNA gel art.

I also remember reading that they can combine two people's DNA to get a portrait of the images overlapping... very cool.

Just note, running a gel is very toxic. If you are considering artwork that is environmentally conscious, this is not for you. I see they donate tho, which is good :)

You know, this is probably pretty easy to fake out, since most human dna is actually identical.

How would you ever know if it's yours or not? And, why would it matter?

Hollie, running a polyacrylamide gel is not toxic. You just need for acrylamide to solidify into the gel and then it is a safe substance. Besides, that is if they ARE running high-rez polyacrylamide. I bet they are just running agarose gels which are totally safe, anyway you slice it. Besides, they are sending out a photo of the gel, not the gel itself. I can think of several reasons an oil painting would be considered more toxic.

yeah... i highly doubt those are acrylamide gels... and for $169!?!?!?! I can digest and run my own DNA for next to nothing =) (not that I would abuse lab privileges and waste reagents)

how do you even know that they're even running your DNA and not just taking pictures of randoms?

Look for this to appear in a CSI episode. Investigators have a search warrant, but not a warrant to collect a DNA sample. They simply take the DNA art off the wall.

Oren Mazor yes most DNA is similar however there are places where there is variation (ie RFLP) and if you use special enzymes to cut at certain places you can get gene maps that are quite unique. Sure this is a possible fake out but this is not why this is a bad idea.

First I wouldnt trust them to destroy the DNA sample. They could be a racket to get DNA samples for a pharmaceutical company. This is completely ripe for abuse. I would never to do this. Its like someone asking to for your SSN to make pixilated artwork out of your SSN number. This is not smart at all.

Narcissim, meet Technology.

hmmmm...I bet AT is is in on the conspiricy as well - they're being paid by Big Pharma to 'advertise' this cool new product to increase DNA collection from unsuspecting customers....it's all clear now...

I used a bunch of DNA portraits for my MFA submission...now you guys have me wondering whose they were and if their privacy is being violated...man, and they thought Maplethorpe was controversial.

I don't like it :-p Maybe bcz I've seen that image so much that I just think "work" not "art" when I look at it.

I had no idea there was a market for this stuff, and that these companies can get away with charging so much money for it. I know what I'll be doing if my career as a biologist doesn't work out :)

And I agree, the gels are not toxic if they're taken care of properly. The ethidium bromide used to visualize the DNA is a mutagen, but it can be neutralized and disposed of without exposing anyone directly, and the amounts used are very low.

Maybe if I didn't look at these every day for a living, it would hold some appeal. The price seems a bit steep, I could make one of these for probably $20.