The journal
Gifts, science and the making.
Notes from the founder on how DesigNA pieces are made, what to give and when, and the science behind the stones.
Latest · The science
How Much DNA Is in a Cheek Swab? The First Two Minutes of a DesigNA Piece
Cheek swab DNA explained: why cells from inside your cheek carry a full copy of your DNA, why the laboratory needs so little, and what happens next.
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The making
Back to Durham School: A Careers Talk on Becoming an Entrepreneur
DesigNA founder Oliver Sullivan returns to Durham School on 21 October for a careers talk on becoming an entrepreneur. Here is what he plans...
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The making
Strung by Hand in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter: How a DesigNA Strand Is Made
Handmade jewellery from Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter: how our partner jeweller strings a DesigNA strand by hand, in the order a DNA profile sets.
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Materials
Lapis Lazuli: The Blue Stone That Marks Every Blue Dye in Your Profile
Lapis lazuli jewellery with a job to do. On a DesigNA piece the deep blue stone marks every value read in the blue dye...
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Materials
Freshwater Pearls on a DNA Necklace: How They Form and Why Ours Are Slightly Off Round
How freshwater pearls form, why they sit slightly off round, and how the DesigNA freshwater pearl necklace sets your DNA markers between genuine 6mm...
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The science
Why the Laboratory Reads 23 DNA Markers and Not Your Whole Genome
DNA profiling markers explained: what a Short Tandem Repeat is, why 23 markers prove who you are and nothing more, and how they become...
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The making
DNA Jewellery from County Durham: How a Durham Start Up Turns a Cheek Swab into a Necklace
DesigNA makes DNA jewellery from County Durham. Founded in Durham in 2025, based inside the Durham Genome Centre, made in the UK and delivered...
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Gifting
The DNA Necklace and Bracelet Gift Set: One Profile, Two Pieces for Christmas
A DNA necklace and bracelet gift set pairs two pieces from one DNA profile into a single, considered Christmas gift, ready to wear together...
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Gifting
Customisable Gifts for Her: Why DesigNA Goes Further Than a Name or Initial
Customisable gifts for her usually mean a name or initial. A DesigNA piece goes further, built from her own DNA profile. From £179.
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Gifting
DNA Gift Guide: Who a DesigNA Piece Suits and How to Choose
A DNA gift guide to who a DesigNA piece suits, from partners to parents, with prices from £179 and how to pick the right...
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Gifting
Christmas DNA Jewellery Gift Guide 2026: What to Buy and When to Order
A gift made from someone's own DNA needs ordering earlier than a gift off a shelf. Here is what to choose, for whom, and...
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The making
How Much Does DNA Jewellery Cost? A Straight Answer
From 179 pounds to 699 pounds, with the laboratory work included. What sets the price, what does not, and what you are actually paying...
