Piece of jewelry bearing a genetic fingerprint

Abstract

Described are decoration objects, that are intended to be worn by an individual and characterized in that they carry genetic information about the individual wearing the decoration object, or about a different individual. In a preferred embodiment these decoration objects are wedding rings or engagement rings.

1 . Decoration object that is determined to be worn by an individual, characterized in that it carries information about another individual, and characterized in that the decoration object is a ring, a wedding ring, a engagement ring, a friendship ring, a chain, a medallion, a bracelet or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         2 . Set of devices according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the devices carry the genetic fingerprint of a least two individuals, whereas the decoration object, that is determined to be worn by a particular individual, that contains the genetic fingerprint of the respective other individual and characterized in that the decoration object is a wedding ring, a engagement ring or a friendship ring.  
     
     
         3 . Decoration object, characterized in that it contains the genetic fingerprints of the parents of an individual.  
     
     
         4 . Decoration object according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it is an mug, a plate, cutlery, insignia or another decoration object that is customary as a birth present.  
     
     
         5 . Decoration object according to  claim 3 , characterized in that it is a mug, a plate, cutlery, badge or another decoration object that is customary as a baptism related present.  
     
     
         6 . Decoration object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the genetic fingerprint of the individual is based on microsatellite markers, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or other genetic markers that are useful for the unambiguous identification of individuals.  
     
     
         7 . Decoration object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the genetic fingerprints are displayed in the form of letter and/or syllable and/or word and/or number combinations, that correspond to the respective standards in Genetics, or as reliefs, in the form of tables or abstract art.  
     
     
         8 . Decoration object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the genetic information displayed on it is encoded.  
     
     
         9 . Decoration object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the genetic information can be used with a more than 99% confidence for the identification of the individual the information is derived from.  
     
     
         10 . Decoration object according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the major function is not decoration, but the possibility for identification.  
     
     
         11 . Method to attach genetic information to an decoration object and to retrieve the same from it, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: 
 a) the genetic information is obtained from samples taken from said individuals;    b) the genetic information is encoded, and the key to this code is stored at a person or an institution, that is not allowed to pass on this key without authorization by a group of persons previously determined;    c) the encoded information is attached to the decoration object    d) in case, that the genetic information is required for identification, it is retrieved from the (encoded) information on the decoration object and the key provided by said person or institution in case of qualified interest.    
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the attachment of the genetic information to the device is conducted in the form of letters and/or syllables and/or word and/or number combinations, that correspond to the respective standards in Genetics, or as reliefs, in the form of tables or abstract art.