Journal · Ethics

Is DNA jewellery ethical?

Our position on consent, data protection, and what happens to your sample, set out in plain English with the relevant UK law named.

Consent

Every collection kit ships with a short consent form. We do not analyse a sample until that form is signed by the person whose DNA it is, or by a legal guardian for minors. Gifting a DesigNA piece always involves the recipient. The kit is the gift, and the recipient decides whether to send the sample.

What we read and what we do not

We read a small set of polymorphic markers chosen because they are highly variable between individuals and clinically uninformative. We do not read disease risk markers, ancestry markers, or any region of the genome with health or behavioural relevance. The output is a design sequence, not a report.

Data protection

Sample handling, processing, and storage are governed by UK GDPR and the Human Tissue Act 2004. Specifically:

• The physical sample is destroyed once the laboratory analysis is complete.
• The digital marker data is encrypted at rest, stored only for as long as needed to fulfil your order, and then deleted.
• We do not sell, share, or use the data for any purpose other than producing your necklace.
• You can request deletion of your data at any time, before or after delivery.

The laboratory

All analysis is performed at a UK based, UKAS accredited laboratory. UKAS accreditation is the formal recognition that a laboratory meets recognised international standards for technical competence. The laboratory is contractually bound to our data protection requirements.

Manufacturing

The necklaces are handcrafted by our partner jeweller in Birmingham. Materials are sourced from UK and EU suppliers and we do not knowingly work with conflict stones. Sterling silver is 925 hallmarked. Gold pieces use 9ct hallmarked gold, with gold filled spacers and a gold plated extender.

If you change your mind

You can cancel for a full refund any time before production begins, no questions asked. Once your sample has been processed and the necklace is in production, we cannot refund the laboratory and craft costs, but we will always do what is fair if your circumstances change.

Written by Oliver Sullivan, founder of DesigNA. Updated May 2026.