Get closer to your Genes with a Home DNA Storage Kit

2003 is a big year for DNA, with April 25th being the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix. Despite the significant advances made in science, DNA and genetics still conjure up negative images in most peoples minds. A new home DNA kit aims to rectify this situation by giving people the chance to see their personal DNA code and use it to create the ultimate in personalized goods.

2003 is a big year for DNA. It is fifty years since the famous duo, Watson and Crick, published their paper saying that the structure of DNA is a double helix and 25 years since Sir Alec Jeffries invented DNA fingerprinting, the technique that has since helped in solving crimes across the world.

Over those 50 years the science of genetics has made huge leaps forward, with the publication of the draft human genome (the complete DNA sequence for our species) being the culmination of massive collaborative effort by the global scientific community and $10b of investment. The genome is also the springboard into the next generation of research, which promises personalised medicine, based on our individual genetic make-up.

Despite the potentially massive upside, issues such as cloning and genetically modified crops continue to pose ethical questions as big as any previously faced by mankind. Every one of us will be directly affected by the decisions that are made over the next few years -- and groups such as the Human Genetic Commission in the UK are working hard to encourage public dialogue to ensure that everyones opinion is heard. David Nicholson, a young UK entrepreneur has taken a novel route to bring us all closer to our DNA, in a way that is both fun and serious.

CATGee (which is pronounced Catchy") is a home DNA storage kit. Simply by rubbing a special 'lollypop inside your mouth you can store a sample of your DNA forever. David said, The obvious question people ask is Why"? My initial answer was Why not?" After all you can buy a bit of the moon or name a star -- it is the ideal gift for someone who has everything. With CATGee you can even wear someones DNA around your neck, as a 21st Century Lock of Hair."
In fact there are serious reasons for storing a DNA sample, the main two being as a genetic family tree (since in the future experts will be able to make better diagnoses of illnesses if they know the genetic make-up of previous generations) and as a means of identification. David says, At first it sounds a bit macabre to be keeping DNA in case you ever get involved in a major accident (think of the Twin Towers in New York), but in todays unpredictable world, you could think of it as another type of insurance policy. You never want to use it, but it could save your family untold agony. At least they would be able to say goodbye to you".

The CATGee kit contains a special card that literally grabs the DNA from your cheek cells binding it irreversibly and immobilising anything else that could damage it. Police and armies have used the cards for many years, as a cost effective means of storing and transporting their very large DNA archives. I asked David if I could be cloned and he reassured me by saying that the DNA breaks into chunks when you remove it from the card. So it is good for identification, but useless for cloning.

If you ever needed to get your identity confirmed using your stored DNA, it would be sent to a laboratory in order for a DNA fingerprint to be created. The CATGee kit lets you do this today. For an additional fee you can send a second swab to their laboratory and get your unique DNA code extracted. It is generated from your non-coding" DNA (the 98% of your DNA that says nothing about your hair colour, or likelihood to develop a particular disease) and is a series of numbers that indicate how much DNA you have received from your mother and father at specific 'map references along it. This number is unique for all of us (except for identical twins who would have an identical code). As well as receiving your code on a certificate you can get it printed on a T-shirt. Says David We are all unique and this is a great way of celebrating that fact. We even let you add a personal message -- something that is in your genes. Born to shop" is a popular one."

Finally I had to know Why CATGee"? It turns out that Cytosine, Adenine, Thymine and Guanine are the names of the nucleotides that make up DNA, by binding together to form so-called base pairs. A quick look at their initial letters shows how a product with no name" got one.

To buy CATGee visit www.catgee.com
Or phone the CATGee order line on +44 (0) 1373 814 861 or 1 800 959 2149 (USA)