Emerging Genomic Revolution in Security

As explained in the December 2017 issue of Trends, research shows that by 2022, counterfeiting of tangible products will to drain up to $1.8 trillion a year from the legitimate global economy and put 5.4 million legitimate jobs at risk. In that issue, we discussed the economic and public safety implications, and we examined several approaches to addressing this enormous problem.

An important emerging technology not examined at that time was genomics. Genomics is the science of reading and interpreting the genetic sequences encoded in DNA. The genomic technology developed over the past three decades can be applied to very long sequences like those that describe humans and other complex organisms, as well as to short DNA fragments. These methods can also sequence synthetic DNA containing nucleotides other than Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine. When applied to identification, genomic technology can be readily optimized to meet the diverse requirements of product manufacturers and service providers, worldwide.

One of the first applications of genomics to authentication was in the area of sports memorabilia. Within that niche a firm called Professional Sports Authentication, or PSA, is the leader. The PSA business model combines their expertise in determining the authenticity and quality of trading cards, baseballs, or other items, with a DNA tagging process which ensures that the item “authenticated” in the lab is the item sold to subsequent owners. A primary aspect of this “insurance” is an enforceable guarantee of authenticity. By ensuring authenticity, the PSA process lowers risks and increases liquidity in the sports memorabilia market.

However, this application is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to genomic authentication. Outside the sport memorabilia space, the innovation leader is a company called Applied DNA Sciences, or ADNAS (www.adnas.com, NASDAQ: APDN). The authentication technology and product platform developed by ADNAS provides a range of end-to-end industry solutions for DNA tagging, testing and tracking. At the heart of the ADNAS platform, is their patented technology for DNA manufacturing without the need for fermentation. Their methods use an iterative approach that doubles the amount of DNA with every cycle, called Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR. Until ADNAS, PCR had been and remains the method of choice for detection of DNA as opposed to DNA production. ADNAS took this method, which is usually conducted in quantities of less than 10 microliters (or 10 one-millionths of a liter) and scaled it up by more than 10 million-fold and in some cases adopted continuous-flow mode. The result is incredibly pure DNA, made incredibly fast, at a scale previously unimagined. This approach is applicable to a vast array of items including raw materials, critical components and finished products. The scalability allows ADNAS to address large global markets like cotton and fertilizers, where it is possible to DNA-tag billions of pounds of raw materials (although that demand has yet to be established). DNA-based security and authentication solutions based on this technology already protects products, brands, supply chains, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion.

To support this business model, ADNAS is involved not only in producing “tagging DNA” but also, the supporting software and hardware. The flexibility of the technology allows various components to be mixed and matched to meet the requirements of product manufacturers and service providers in almost any industry, almost anywhere.

This technology is already deployed across a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, semiconductors, defense, printing, packaging, law enforcement, government agencies, pharmaceuticals, financial institutions, textiles, fertilizers, leather and even wine. And it’s relevant to almost any industry that is susceptible to counterfeiting and piracy.

Beyond genomics, ADNAS is one of the few companies pioneering the use of Synthetic Genomics. This field makes use of custom designed base sequences. In the case of ADNAS, it is most often used to represent content, in much the same way that machine code or binary code or even barcodes can represent content. However, unlike binary code which has only two options per bit, DNA has four options (A,T,G or C) per bit, and so can store content in a much denser form than traditional computer platforms. In fact, as little as 4 grams of DNA (which would fill a teaspoon) could meet the current world’s total requirement for data storage. This is an astonishing concept to contemplate.

In order to address a wide range of applications, ADNAS has developed a set of customizable offerings based on the idea of tagging physical objects with “designed DNA” that is engineered to be non-functional from a biological perspective, but is simply a “curator of content.”   

One offering goes by the brand name of "SigNature." With SigNature, products and materials are assigned a secure identity via molecular tagging, as well as other visually-identifiable or machine-readable markings. The tagging can be implemented anywhere along the product's lifecycle or supply chain. That means, raw materials, component parts, finished goods, packaging, or all-of-the-above can be tagged using techniques that verify provenance, integrity and authenticity. By engineering the content of its SigNature tags, ADNAS can also mark materials to support claims that are especially relevant in today’s global markets. These Include claims of sustainability, organic origins, and ethical sourcing, none of which can be analyzed by chemical or physical means but, can be supported by specific DNA tags. By working with third parties, or NGO’s who substantiate these claims, ADNAS empowers retailers or marketers to provide testable claims that can be supported in every node of a supply chain.

These custom molecular tags are produced in such a way as to work seamlessly with the customer's process and product. With SigNature, ADNAS develops, validates and implements a specific solution to fit each customer's needs. For instance, a tiny, invisible amount of unique DNA might be seamlessly blended into liquor, wine, or pharmaceuticals to enable detection of authentic originals. Similarly, invisible tags of unique DNA can be applied to aircraft parts, automobile parts, consumer electronics and fine watches to ensure reliable identification of genuine items.

This concept is particularly appealing to textile brands that need to ensure the integrity of the materials used by their many contract manufacturers. In this case, a solution called SigNature® T DNA is used to keep textiles "real and safe." It uses a unique molecular tagging, testing and traceability system. Fiber, yarn, fabric and garment labels are tagged with patented and proprietary SigNature T. This DNA is stable and adheres tenaciously to virtually any textile substrate, including both natural and synthetic fibers. More importantly, these molecular tags cannot be copied and will survive standard textile treatment processes.

SigNature T allows for superior quality control and assurance at any point in the supply chain, for ultimate textile brand protection.

For example, to achieve pima cotton certainty, SigNature T DNA tagging is complemented with fiberTyping® a patented DNA test that is used to determine if a product contains the presence of:

• Extra Long Staple "ELS" cotton (Gossypium barbadense) DNA,
• Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum DNA, or
• a blend of both.

FiberTyping is a crucial tool, if the cotton industry is to ensure that products labeled as 100% ELS, or 100% Pima, are compliant with the label claims.

Another type of authentication service is represented by ADNAS’ SigNify authentication process. Test results provide customers with “a Certificate Of DNA Analysis” (or CODA), which can be used as evidence in courts around the world. This is key to all of these solutions because it proves that a SigNature DNA mark is present on or in an item. ADNAS’ patented and proprietary authentication methodologies allow for SigNature DNA authentication marks to be detected and verified in ADNAS’ own labs in the US (Stony Brook, NY) and India (Ahmedabad), or on-site using the customers’ own SigNify® authentication devices for:

Point-of-activity authentication; or

On-site authentication at the customer’s QC/QA certified lab.

The Portable DNA Readers provides custom assays for SigNature DNA marks and definitive real-time authentication of SigNature® DNA. Each reader handles 16 samples per run and can function “stand-alone” or PC-connected.

That flexibility is particularly useful for applications in which DNA serves as a front-line solution for ensuring supply chain integrity, or for verifying the claims essential to contemporary retail, as well as Millennials demanding “Radical Transparency.”

An additional offering goes by the brand name of “BACKTRAC.” Backtrac is a long-lasting tagging solution containing a unique molecular signature that can be used by companies, governments, and even individuals to mark valuable items that belong to them. The user simply brushes the clear liquid onto valuables. Using BACKTRACK involves three easy steps for securing valuables:

1. Register your unique Backtrac serial number.
2. Tag your items with Backtrac. And,
3. Enjoy your products. You're done!

Backtrac is invisible in normal light, but the tagged area glows bright red under UV light, helping police identify and return lost or stolen items.

A related tracking solution called Beacon scales the BackTrack solution up for large-scale industrial applications. Each Beacon marker contains a unique molecular tag, creating a strong and flexible end-to-end security solution.

Authenticity and provenance can be determined by conducting in-field validation. If need, authentication swabs can be sent to Applied DNA Sciences for full forensic analysis.

A unique, encrypted fluorescing signal acts as a covert screening tool that can be easily adapted to packaging and labels through inks, varnishes and coatings.

This provides a sure way of easily identifying items marked with DNA tags and sequencing the DNA give 100% assurance of authenticity.

When it comes to supply chain visibility, ADNAS has created another clever solution called digitalDNA. digitalDNA® is a cloud-based platform used to track DNA-marked products as they travel throughout the supply chain for optimal supply chain security. The system allows for product identity to be established, validated and authenticated at key points in the supply chain.

It’s designed as a modular platform, letting companies implement some or all of its capabilities depending on its needs.

With digitalDNA, any business in the supply chain can access at least seven types of critical information:

1. Chain of custody paths with geo-location, time/date stamps and business entity ID;
2. Trace, quality and reference documents such as shipping manifests;
3. DNA mark spectral validation;
4. DNA authentication data;
5. QC sample submission, status tracking and results;
6. Supply chain security training documents, protocols and consumables ordering; and,
7. Mobile access to verification data.

This data enables procurement decisions, testing protocols and inventory management.

Earlier, we discussed how a very simple DNA tagging system called Backtrac can play an important role in the identification and recovery of high-value items like art, equipment and jewelry. For larger-scale applications, Applied DNA Sciences has a solution called DNAnet that companies can integrate with existing security systems providing a means of directly linking criminals to crimes.

DNAnet runs as a standalone system or can be integrated into an existing security system. A DNAnet marking emits a Bright Red UV Signal making it easy to identify on the spot. Once the signal has been detected, the evidence is sent to Applied DNA Sciences for forensic evaluation. Laboratory analysis of the forensic DNAnet marker is summarized and presented in an Expert Witness Report.

With forensic DNA at its core, this system is a very effective crime deterrent. Compelling warning decals posted at “point of use” act as a deterrent to criminals.

Any commercial/retail establishment could benefit from the addition of this system. However, ideal applications include: banks, ATMs, pharmacies, jewelry stores, convenience stores, pawn brokers and gun shops.

Another imaginative security application is ADNAS’ SmokeCloak® DNA security fog. When deployed in pharmacies, banks, commercial buildings, and retail locations, SmokeCloak DNA helps protect staff, customers and assets by deploying a thick and disorienting fog to ward off offenders and deposits a unique, location-specific DNA marker on skin, clothing and stolen items. According to ADNAS, the combination of fog and DNA technologies strikes fear into criminals’ hearts; therefore, deterrence levels soar.

SmokeCloak® DNA security fog was jointly developed by ADNAS and Smoke & Screen Security Systems, a smoke security and ventilation company, that develops sophisticated instant protection systems.

In order to provide consumers assurance of DNA authentication of the products they use, ADNAS has developed the “CertainT label.” CertainT provides producers and distributors integrated, streamlined access to the core facets of ADNAS’ proven authentication portfolio including Tagging, Testing and Tracking.

In the tagging phase, products and materials are assigned a secure identity via molecular tagging and other visually-identifiable or machine-readable features, as explained in the context of SigNature. Tagging can be implemented anywhere during the lifecycle or supply chain (source, manufacturing, branding) to ensure authenticity. Raw materials, components, finished goods and packaging can be tagged using techniques that verify provenance, integrity and authenticity. Custom molecular tags are produced to work seamlessly with your process and product. ADNAS develops, validates and implements a custom solution to fit the company’s needs.

Testing can be conducted at Applied DNA’s forensic laboratories, on-site or in-field. Molecular tag analysis determines the applied identity. Optical and digital rapid-screening tools offer a quick, economical means of in-field screening. And results may be provided in the form of Go/No-Go reports or detailed data for comparative and trending decisions. Applied DNA’s Certification Services can include training, standard operating procedures, audit protocols, expert witness reporting, and local field operations for product sampling.

Tracking involves collecting data from tagged raw materials and components as they are incorporated into finished goods. Information regarding chain of custody, geo-location and date/time stamp, lot or serial number identity are useful for proactive and reactive audits.

The end results is that consumers know an item with the CertainT Certified label is indeed authentic.

Given this trend, we offer the following forecasts for your consideration.

First, given the huge threat posed by counterfeit components in mission critical applications, the Trends editors believe the DOD, FAA and other agencies will require DNA tagging of components by 2025.

In a world where industrial espionage and cyberwarfare are so prevalent, we can no longer tolerate the risks associated with counterfeit military and aerospace components.   

Second, luxury goods businesses will increasingly move to adopt DNA technology to reduce product counterfeiting.

With over $1.5 trillion at risk annually from counterfeiting, it’s amazing that companies have not already adopted this technology en masse. But given its low costs, resistant to duplication and non-destructive nature, it likely that DNA tagging will eventually emerge as a winning solution. And,

Third, companies whose reputations depend on quality will use DNA tagging to ensure that contract manufacturers adhere to prescribed content standards.

Increasingly companies outsource manufacturing to contractors worldwide. As a result, there are stories of contractors substituting inferior materials for those provided by the customer. With DNA tagging of raw materials, customers can verify that the finished goods contain only the materials specified.