Plant DNA is the unlikely weapon a Stony Brook firm is now marketing to fight home thefts and product counterfeiting.
AppliedDNA Sciences stamps personal property like computers, cameras and jewelry with tiny, unique DNA particles. The DNA can only be seen with a special UV light and can't be removed from the items.
If the items are stolen and recovered, authorities can use those DNA markers to identify the items as proceeds of a crime and return them to their rightful owners.
"Criminals have definite concerns they will be caught," said James Hayward, CEO of AppliedDNA Sciences. "This is a deterrent."
According to Hayward, the plant DNA stamping is used in communities overseas and has helped convict burglary suspects and reduce crime rates.
AppliedDNA now hopes to test the technology in several tri-state communities.
One Suffolk county legislator, William Spencer, wants to bring it to homeowners in Huntington Station, in an effort to alleviate burglaries there.
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It's all part of what the company hopes will be a plant DNA revolution, using stamping on everything from clothing to military electronics to money to prevent theft and counterfeiting.
"This is a very practical but ingenious application that. I think can change the world," Hayward said.
