DNA-art company offers personalization
If you don't know what to get those hard-to-shop-for people on your Christmas list, maybe you can give them a personalized pair of genes.
At least, with a DNA portrait, you know that, literally, nobody else will be getting the same gift as your recipient. DNA 11, an Ottawa, Canada-based company, takes people's DNA, obtained by a simple cotton swab wiped inside a cheek, and turns the genetic information into a glass-framed, 8-by-10-inch visual piece of art or large wall hanging.
The visual is not in the shape of the theoretical double-helix model. It ends up looking more like the grid of a city at night, says Adrian Salamunovic, co-founder of DNA 11.
"Certain lights are on, and certain lights are off, and they create a unique pattern for individuals," says Salamunovic, 33. "No two people's patterns are exactly alike" -- except for identical twins.
"What do you get the person who has everything?" he says. "You want to get a reaction out of them, and this is guaranteed to do that."
The portraits, which begin at $169 for the mini, take about 4 to 6 weeks to make, but people can get the ordering process started with the collection kits that come with an order.
Recently, an entire plot of "CSI: NY" was created around one of the DNA portraits, which became a clue in the episode.
With the collection kit, the person follows instructions to submit his or her DNA with a swab and a card, and selects the color of the portrait online. If you want to surprise gift recipients with DNA art, don't worry. You don't have to try to pry their jaws open while they sleep. You can surprise them with a gift version of the collection kit, and they can take it from there.
DNA 11 opened three years ago after Salamunovic, a marketing and design specialist, and his lifelong friend -- Nazim Ahmed, 32, who worked in the biotechnology field -- came up with an informal hobby that turned into a business. Salamunovic noticed how DNA, which Ahmed saw every day, looked like modern art when mapped out in such a way.
Family and friends started asking for their DNA profiles to be turned into art, and word-of-mouth increased the requests. Within a few months, both men quit their jobs to run DNA 11, which has become a multimillion-dollar company.
DNA 11 sells many other DNA art products besides the new Mini Portrait. Larger DNA portraits are available, along with fingerprint portraits and kiss portraits.
For many people, DNA art is simply a vanity wall piece to put up in their office and amuse clients and colleagues, he says. Many other clients are having DNA portraits done for entire families. Some clients will order one for themselves and one for their partner, and display the art side-by-side above their bed.
"It's a fun, artistic and educational way for getting families together to do a portrait," Salamunovic says. "For couples ... it's a very symbolic way of showing the union of two people."
Additional Information:
To order
⢠Gift kits for DNA Mini Portraits and other products still are available for Christmas shipment. Details: 866-619-9754 or Web site .
