The Science

The Science Behind Your Jewellery

Every DesigNA piece is created from your unique genetic fingerprint, the same technology trusted by forensic scientists worldwide.

What is STR Analysis?

STR stands for Short Tandem Repeat, a section of your DNA where a short sequence of base pairs repeats over and over.

The number of times these sequences repeat is unique to you, creating a pattern as individual as a fingerprint. It’s the same analysis used by forensic scientists in criminal investigations, the NHS for paternity testing, and intelligence agencies worldwide.

In short: STR analysis is the gold standard for personal identification, and it’s what makes your DesigNA piece truly yours and no one else’s.

We read identity markers only. Your health, your heritage, your predispositions: none of that is ever captured. Just the unique numerical pattern that makes you, you.

From profile to pattern

Five dye colours. Twenty three markers. One sequence that is only yours.

From DNA to Design: How It Works

Step 1. Your Swab Kit Arrives

We send a sterile cheek swab kit straight to your door. The collection process takes under two minutes, simply swab the inside of your cheek and return it in the prepaid envelope.

Step 2. Laboratory STR Profiling

Your sample is processed at our partner laboratory. Using capillary electrophoresis, scientists identify the repeat count at each of your 23 STR markers. This produces a string of numbers, your unique genetic profile.

Step 3. Your Profile Becomes Art

Our design team translates your numerical STR profile into a visual pattern, a rhythm of peaks and valleys as unique as your DNA. This pattern is then applied to your chosen piece of jewellery.

Step 4. Handcrafted & Delivered

Your piece is handcrafted to the highest standard and delivered in beautiful DesigNA packaging, a one-of-a-kind creation that can only ever belong to you.

Your DNA is Safe With Us

We take your privacy as seriously as we take our craft. Here’s exactly how we handle your genetic data:

STR Only

We extract only your STR profile, the identity numbers. No health, ancestry, or predisposition data is ever read or stored.

Sample Destroyed

Your physical DNA sample is destroyed after profiling. We do not retain, sell, or share your raw genetic material with any third party.

UK GDPR Compliant

All data is handled in accordance with UK GDPR. Your STR profile numbers are stored securely and used solely to produce your jewellery.

Right to Erasure

You can request the deletion of your STR profile data at any time, simply by contacting us at sales@mydesigna.co.uk.

For full details, read our Privacy Policy.

Common questions

Why do you analyse STR markers rather than the whole genome?

We deliberately read only STR identity markers, never your whole genome. STR analysis reveals identity but nothing about your health, ancestry, or medical conditions, privacy by design. It is the same forensic standard used in UK courts, focused entirely on the markers that make you uniquely you.

What exactly does the laboratory see in my DNA?

Your sample is handled by our laboratory partner, Complement Genomics. They extract your DNA and process it to produce a DNA profile from 23 autosomal markers. They read identity markers only, never your health, ancestry, or any clinical information.

Is this the same science as a paternity or forensic test?

Yes. We use the same Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis, performed to the same standard used for forensic identification and legal paternity testing in the UK. The only difference is what we do with it, turning your identity markers into jewellery.