How to Mail DNA
by
Find the right box. Crush the dry ice. Assemble the package. Get a FedEx number. Fill out the forms. Schedule a pick-up. Pay for the package. Wonder why there’s not a better way…
Taken alone, any one of these steps isn’t a huge deal. Taken together, they reveal a process that takes way too much time and money and is begging for a better solution.
Several years ago, I was exchanging constructs on a covert side project with Anthony O’Donoghue, a friend from graduate school. I voiced my concern that the cost of a cross-country FedEx package would likely get noticed and blow our cover… That’s when Anthony enlightened me and shared how he mails DNA. For $0.42 (at the time), we could exchange as many constructs as we could fit on a filter paper.
About 4 days after he mailed the envelope, I was the proud owner of 3 new constructs. Seeing how cheap and easy it was, I was immediately converted to the filter paper mailing technique. I’ve never gone back.
Click the image below to watch the video and see for yourself how easy it can be!
Charles Burton
wrote on March 26, 2013 at 12:08 am
I didn't know that was even possible. It makes me wonder what can't be sent by mail these days.