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DNA DX debuts in Dubai
If the instructions on a human DNA were turned into a book, it would run into 5000 volumes of 300 pages each. And get this, it would be over one billion words long.
- By Shalaka Paradkar, freelance writer
- Published: 00:08 July 2, 2008
- Tired of stuffy portraits? Splatter your DNA across the lounge room wall.
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
Looking for a feature that'll trump the Joneses? Junaid Faruq can turn your saliva into art, writes Shalaka Paradkar.
If the instructions on a human DNA were turned into a book, it would run into 5000 volumes of 300 pages each. And get this, it would be over one billion words long.
Thanks to Junaid Faruq and his entrepreneurial venture DNA DX, a picture may just be worth a billion words now.
Faruq, a 22-year-old Irish-Indian biotechnology graduate from Dublin City University, seeks to portray the beauty of human DNA with his gene portraits of people. Unlike conventional portraits, these paintings bear little resemblance to the actual subject.
There are no lengthy sittings and lighting set-ups and no grudges about being captured for posterity in a less-than-flattering way. Gene portraits are magnified and abstract images of your DNA sequencing washed in the colours of your choice.
It's as much art as it is science, and best of all, it has now made its debut in the UAE.
"I had the chance to perform some molecular genetic work on the human genome. I discovered that the different band patterns I was attaining through my experiments had some artistic quality to them and would make a great picture. Then with some help, I created our first gene portrait," says Junaid.
He started DNA DX as the artistic arm of Arabtel and Eastern Biotech and Life Sciences based in Dubai, headed by Dr Faruq Badiuddin.
Making deoxyribonucleic art
To get yourself a gene portrait, go to www.dna-dx.com, choose the size, frame and colour scheme. You can get that perfect pair of blue genes. Or even more on trend, yellow and bubblegum pink. The frame options are limited to two. Opting for a frameless print is obviously cheaper.
Depending on your choices, expect to pay $490 upwards. And the size of your portraits doesn't depend on your genes either: they can be as long as five metres in length.
Once you have placed an order online, DNA DX will mail you the sample kit with instructions. Swab the inside of your mouth for cheek cells and send off the DNA sample (remember the good old days when this ritual was about paternity tests rather than portraits?).
DNA DX then sends your sample to its laboratory where DNA from your saliva is extracted, and the very precise regions of your DNA are then amplified using gold-standard enzymes.
The DNA is run through a specific gel and a rough digital picture is taken. The DNA sample and gel are destroyed under high heat and pressure once the process is complete (This image is stored for three months and then deleted, to save on sampling and process times if you decide to place a future order).
The lab sends the image to a design team, who digitally enhance the picture, adding in the chosen colours. The enhanced image is then printed on canvas and the picture is framed and mailed. From start to finish, the process takes four to six weeks.
You now own an art form that is as unique as you. DNA DX has options for portraits of pets and family members too. You can use the same sample collection technique. The possibilities are endless.
DNA of a deceased loved one? Sure, no problem. All that is needed for their portrait is a few strands of their hair.
Want to surprise someone with a gene portrait? Again, yank off a few hairs from their head for the DNA sample and follow the same process outlined above.
Interestingly, family members' DNA portraits do resemble each other to some degree.
"Some of the bands present will be the same in a family image. However, the bands themselves will not indicate hereditary traits. For special requests, we can indicate specific genes such as the blood group or their gender.
But we do not reveal any usable genetic information in our gene portraits," says Junaid. For reasons of privacy and security, gene portraits have purely aesthetic value.
Unlike the heated debates that genetic science is known to inspire, Junaid says gene portraits do not violate any cultural or religious taboos.
"The beauty of gene portraits is that no human imagery is present, which in this region is perfect. Islam prefers not to have too much human imagery displayed," says Junaid.
He is in talks with contemporary art galleries to see if his gene portraits can be incorporated into their art collections.
"With the current drive in Abu Dhabi to promote art and culture, and with internationally renowned art galleries soon to be established there, we feel that we have quite an exciting scope to display our portraits."
DNA DX has had a great response from interior designers and gadget outlets (after all it is a kind of DIY art). Most of their marketing is done online through their website, though they do plan to open a brick-and-mortar business soon to display their full range of GenePortraits.
Specific genes in the human genome, such as the blood group or eye colour genes, can be shown up as bands on a GenePortrait.
You can request particular genes to be like highlighted. The company also provides an information sheet along with the GenePortrait, so you don't get your genome mixed up with your pet's.
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