Another day, another post on the Guardian’s new Small Talk (nano) blog, from the Apr. 25, 2013 posting by Ros Daw (a senior editor at Nature magazine),

Want a foolproof way to label your things? DNA offers a new tamper-resistant route to label products with detailed information buried within the object itself or its packaging. DNA is a molecule that encodes all the information to generate living systems and make them function. But, like any code, it can be used to store any sort of content such as the product information or owner identification for security tagging. Researchers from ETH Zurich encased DNA in a nano scale protective layer of glass which allowed the molecule to be embedded within plastics during high temperature processing with no degradation. They recreated the effect of ancient DNA protection in permafrost samples or in desiccated form from amber and from avian eggshell fossils where DNA has been separated from harsh environmental factors over thousands of years and remained intact. …

I always find it interesting to read someone else’s perspective on a topic that’s familiar to me (provided I’m in the mood) especially when they are introducing me to new material. Still, I am puzzled by this tidbit as I’m not sure why I or anyone else would want to have their DNA integrated into an object they owned for the purpose of labelling. How practical would this be? Let’s assume that at some point they will want to sell or give the object to someone else. Is there a way to remove the old owner’s DNA and replace it with the new owner’s DNA?

Daw has offered this DNA tidbit and more  in a post titled (the title was likely not written by Daw): Nanotech roundup: nanocapsules, DNA labelling and more. The Guardian promises: Every month we will give you pointers to the most interesting research, news and ideas in nano land.

I sense a little creative writing by the headline writer—nano land (?) is a term I’ve seen used in games but not amongst people who discuss nanotechnology regularly.

I first mentioned the latest member of the Guardian’s science blog network, Small Talk, in an Apr. 23, 2013 posting.