Researchers at the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) have recovered DNA from pearls they say allows them to determine origin.
According to SSEF, this is the first time oyster DNA has been extracted from a pearl and the technology is currently being patented. The lab collaborated with the Institute of Integrative Biology (IBZ) of ETH Zurich for its DNA extraction expertise and technology.
“This is a breakthrough in pearl science and opens up new and interesting opportunities for future pearl research and testing,” said SSEF director, Michael S. Krzemnicki.
“We are constantly exploring new scientific methods to test pearls and are excited about this new method we have developed in collaboration with scientists at ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities. These new methods give us a considerable advantage in distinguishing different types of pearls and for the future documentation of historic pearls. We hope to add them as client services in the near future.”
The extraction technique is practically non-destructive, preserving the commercial value of tested historic and modern pearls. In one sample, 10 mg of drilled powder was sufficient to successfully identify the pearl-oyster species based on extracted DNA material.
Tested pearls included Pinctada maxima, Pinctada margaritifera, Akoya oysters, and Pinctada radiata pearls from the Arabian/Persian Gulf.
