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Another cool use for DNA

Iconoclast

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While I was writing a post in the "Literature and da Arts" forum here, I came across something that's pretty cool. Apparently some painters are now protecting their work from forgers by having some of their DNA added to their paint which is then used to mark a portion of their painting.

The actual location of the DNA within the painting is stored in a database and a handheld scanner can be used at a later date to verify that the painting indeed has the artist's DNA. The author of the article is cafeful to point out that the DNA in the painting is "Undetectable to the naked eye".

http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/09_02/protected_art.shtml
 
Iconoclast said:
a handheld scanner can be used at a later date to verify that the painting indeed has the artist's DNA.
Click to expand...
Uh, How?

I thought you needed some actual material to do some actual chromatography with to identify someone's DNA. First I heard that you could just point a tricorder at it.

Rolfe.
 
Iconoclast said:
The actual location of the DNA within the painting is stored in a database and a handheld scanner can be used at a later date to verify that the painting indeed has the artist's DNA. The author of the article is cafeful to point out that the DNA in the painting is "Undetectable to the naked eye".
Click to expand...

I think the article is trying to say that 'at some time in the future a magical handheld DNA scanner will be available that can authenticate the painting'

Of course, in this wonderfull future, nobody will have discovered a way to fool this magical DNA scanner.
 
Old hat.

Feminists have been painting with their menstrual fluids for decades.
 
epepke said:
Old hat.

Feminists have been painting with their menstrual fluids for decades.
Click to expand...

Heh. Makes me think of "Blood and Semen" and let's not forget "Blood and Semen 2"
 
Oh bother. Well, at least they could extract some of the dna and test it for now.

And I have never heard of anyone painting with blood...so you have to point me to some pertinent examples. Much appreciated.
 
bewareofdogmas said:
Uh, How?-Rolfe




Remove a microscopic bit of the paint, replicate the DNA and test it.
Click to expand...

Possible, but not feasable, nor even usefull for the puposes stated.

And this: " ........a handheld scanner can be used at a later date to verify that the painting indeed has the artist's DNA. " is certainly not possible with current technology.

Somebody has been watching Gattaca a bit too much methinks.
 
Re: Re: Another cool use for DNA

Rolfe said:
Uh, How?

I thought you needed some actual material to do some actual chromatography with to identify someone's DNA. First I heard that you could just point a tricorder at it.
Click to expand...
bewareofdogmas said:
Uh, How?-Rolfe

Remove a microscopic bit of the paint, replicate the DNA and test it.
Click to expand...
Er, that's exactly what I said, if you hadn't snipped the quote.

Rolfe.
 
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