Nucleic Acid-Labeled Tags Associated With Odorant

摘要

A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule, an odorant, and an encapsulant. Unique nucleic acid-containing tags containing an odorant are seeded at one or more geographic locations. Using odorant-detection systems, the person or object of interest is examined for the presence of one or more of the odorant, thereby revealing the presence of the seeded nucleic acids and eliminating the expense and time associated with unnecessary screening. The geographic location associated with each detected nucleic acid is used to backtrack the item's path or extrapolate a probable point of origin.

主权项

1. A method for determining whether an item has moved through a geographic location, the method comprising:
seeding the geographic location with a nucleic acid tag comprising a plurality of nanoparticle nucleotide-support platforms each attached to a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, and wherein the nucleic acid tag further comprises an odorant; and screening the item for the presence of the nucleic acid tag.