Background Essay: Dab of DNA Helps Keep Counterfeiters at Bay

Wherever there's an item of value, from artwork to currency to Gucci^TM bags, there are counterfeits. But now science has offered a new and perhaps foolproof method of tagging genuine items: DNA sequences. As this USA Today article reports, DNA sequences from Olympic athletes were used in the ink on Sydney 2000 Olympic souvenirs. The only remaining question is, Will the DNA hold up in the wash?