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The Invisible sprays promises to remove all traces of DNA from surfaces | Mail Online
Privacy spray promises to remove all traces of DNA from surfaces - but could it be used to commit crimes without getting caught?
By Victoria Woollaston
Published: 06:13 EST, 7 May 2014 | Updated: 11:52 EST, 7 May 2014
Everywhere you go you run the risk of leaving traces of your DNA behind – from fingerprints, to skin, hair and cigarette butts.
A Brooklyn-based firm is so concerned this DNA could be collected and stored by authorities it has created a range of sprays designed to help people delete it from all surfaces.
A limited number of Invisible sprays are due to go on sale in June for $99 (£58) to protect people’s privacy, but, in theory, it could also be used by criminals to commit crimes without getting caught.
HOW INVISIBLE SPRAYS WORK
The Invisible range consists of two different sprays that can be used as a pair, or separately.
This means customers can either wipe everything clean, or leave an alternate DNA sample to protect their privacy.
The Invisible range of sprays was created by genetic privacy company BioGenFutures, set up by artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg.
According to the BioGenFutures sites, Invisible is a set of sprays that can be used to remove or obfuscate a person’s residual DNA left on door handles, keyboards, train seats, or in restaurants and pubs.
The first spray is called Erase and it’s an ‘antiDNA cleaning product’ similar to a disinfectant spray.
'Replace', on the other hand, is an obfuscation spray that adds a mixture of genetic material to a DNA sample to cloak the details of the original.
The site does, however, feature endorsements from genetic experts including Jeremy Gruber, President of the Council for Responsible Genetics who said: ‘No-one should be able to take another person’s DNA without consent and mine it for information.
‘The promises of the genetic revolution will not be fully realised if concerns over unauthorised testing of DNA and its misuse are not addressed. Invisible represents a critical step towards achieving that goal.’
BioGenFutures continued: ‘Genetic information is inadvertently discarded by billions each day through shed hairs and lashes, dropped cigarette butts and gum, or saliva left on glasses and silverware.
In addition to being accidentally discarded, DNA is routinely extracted and often stored from infants at birth, and as criminal DNA databases are expanding exponentially.
‘Law enforcement now routinely profiles individuals convicted of even petty crimes, tending toward permanent storage of both profiles and biological samples from individuals arrested for but never convicted of a crime.’
Commenting on the spray, Dr John Bond from Leicester University told MailOnline: 'It is easy to remove DNA with a good clean, with biological washing powder for example.
'I can’t see any implications for criminal investigation as this would require a criminal to spray around after themselves cleaning up.
'Given that, today, criminals still don’t wear gloves I can’t see this being effective.
'I think its cashing in on the ‘hype’ surrounding DNA analysis and the (unjustified) fear that people have that it will be used for non-criminal investigation purposes.'
Privacy spray promises to remove all traces of DNA from surfaces - but could it be used to commit crimes without getting caught?
By Victoria Woollaston
Published: 06:13 EST, 7 May 2014 | Updated: 11:52 EST, 7 May 2014
Everywhere you go you run the risk of leaving traces of your DNA behind – from fingerprints, to skin, hair and cigarette butts.
A Brooklyn-based firm is so concerned this DNA could be collected and stored by authorities it has created a range of sprays designed to help people delete it from all surfaces.
A limited number of Invisible sprays are due to go on sale in June for $99 (£58) to protect people’s privacy, but, in theory, it could also be used by criminals to commit crimes without getting caught.
HOW INVISIBLE SPRAYS WORK
The Invisible range consists of two different sprays that can be used as a pair, or separately.
This means customers can either wipe everything clean, or leave an alternate DNA sample to protect their privacy.
The Invisible range of sprays was created by genetic privacy company BioGenFutures, set up by artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg.
According to the BioGenFutures sites, Invisible is a set of sprays that can be used to remove or obfuscate a person’s residual DNA left on door handles, keyboards, train seats, or in restaurants and pubs.
The first spray is called Erase and it’s an ‘antiDNA cleaning product’ similar to a disinfectant spray.
'Replace', on the other hand, is an obfuscation spray that adds a mixture of genetic material to a DNA sample to cloak the details of the original.
The site does, however, feature endorsements from genetic experts including Jeremy Gruber, President of the Council for Responsible Genetics who said: ‘No-one should be able to take another person’s DNA without consent and mine it for information.
‘The promises of the genetic revolution will not be fully realised if concerns over unauthorised testing of DNA and its misuse are not addressed. Invisible represents a critical step towards achieving that goal.’
BioGenFutures continued: ‘Genetic information is inadvertently discarded by billions each day through shed hairs and lashes, dropped cigarette butts and gum, or saliva left on glasses and silverware.
In addition to being accidentally discarded, DNA is routinely extracted and often stored from infants at birth, and as criminal DNA databases are expanding exponentially.
‘Law enforcement now routinely profiles individuals convicted of even petty crimes, tending toward permanent storage of both profiles and biological samples from individuals arrested for but never convicted of a crime.’
Commenting on the spray, Dr John Bond from Leicester University told MailOnline: 'It is easy to remove DNA with a good clean, with biological washing powder for example.
'I can’t see any implications for criminal investigation as this would require a criminal to spray around after themselves cleaning up.
'Given that, today, criminals still don’t wear gloves I can’t see this being effective.
'I think its cashing in on the ‘hype’ surrounding DNA analysis and the (unjustified) fear that people have that it will be used for non-criminal investigation purposes.'
