# US 2014/0155272 A1 · Use Of Diatomaceous Earth As The Base Substrate For Nucleic Acid Tags > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155272 A1 - Document ID: US20140155272A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,425 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: SRC, Inc. - Applicants: Src, Inc. - Inventors: Laura T. Bortolin; Mary F. Swartz; Garrett D. Liddil; Adam J. Lowe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155272A1 ## CPC - C12Q 1/68: involving nucleic acids - Y10S 977/773: Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A nucleic acid tag comprising: a nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform attached to a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, each of said nucleic acid molecules comprising identifying information, with a spacer located between the nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform and the identifying information, and where the nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform comprises diatomaceous earth; and an encapsulant surrounding the nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nucleic acid tag comprising: an agglomerated plurality of nucleotide-support platforms each attached to a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, each of said nucleic acid molecules comprising identifying information, wherein a spacer is located between said nucleotide-support platform and said identifying information, and further wherein each of said plurality of nucleotide-support platforms comprises a diatom having a diameter of approximately 1 micrometer or greater; and an encapsulant surrounding the agglomerated plurality of nanoparticle nucleotide-support platforms and said plurality of nucleic acid molecules. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein the encapsulant is adapted to prevent degradation of the plurality of nucleic acid molecules. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nucleic acid molecules is composed of nucleotides selected from the group consisting of ribonucleotides, deoxyribonucleotides, and nucleotide analogues. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nucleic acid molecules is an oligonucleotide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nucleic acid molecules is genomic deoxyribonucleic acid ranging from two nucleotides to the entire genome. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein information is encrypted within the genomic deoxyribonucleic acid molecule by altering the sequence of nucleotides. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid tag comprises a retroreflector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The nucleic acid tag of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid tag comprises a luminescent compound. ### Claim 9 A method for determining whether an item has moved through a geographic location, the method comprising: creating a nucleic acid tag comprising a nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform attached to a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, each of said nucleic acid molecules comprising identifying information, wherein a spacer is located between said nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform and said identifying information, and further wherein said nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform comprises diatomaceous earth; seeding the geographic location with the nucleic acid tag; and examining the item for the presence of the nucleic acid tag. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the nucleic acid tag is analyzed by sequencing all or part of the nucleic acid molecule. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein each geographic location is seeded with a unique nucleic acid tag. ### Claim 12 A method for backtracking the travel history of an item, the method comprising: creating two or more nucleic acid tags, each tag comprising: a nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform attached to a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, each of said nucleic acid molecules comprising identifying information, wherein a spacer is located between said nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform and said identifying information, and further wherein said nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform comprises diatomaceous earth; seeding each of two or more geographic locations with said nucleic acid tags, wherein each geographic location is seeded with a unique nucleic acid; examining said item for the presence of one or more nucleic acid tags; and identifying the geographic location associated with each nucleic acid tag detected on said item. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method for determining the point of origin of an item according to claim 12, the method further comprising: extrapolating the point of origin. ### Claim 14 A method for detecting a seeded nucleic acid tag in or on an item of interest, the method comprising: obtaining a nucleic acid tag, wherein said nucleic acid tag comprises a nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform attached to a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, each of said nucleic acid molecules comprising identifying information, wherein a spacer is located between said nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform and said identifying information, and further wherein said nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform comprises diatomaceous earth; adding the nucleic acid tag to the item of interest; sampling a portion of the item of interest for the presence of the nucleic acid tag; and detecting the presence of the nucleic acid tag in the sample. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the presence of the tag on an exterior surface indicates tampering. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the presence of the nucleic acid tag authenticates the item of interest. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the step of adding the nucleic acid tag to the item of interest comprises incorporating the nucleic acid tag within a label or a package of the item of interest. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the step of adding the nucleic acid tag to the item of interest comprises incorporating the nucleic acid tag into a precursor of the item of interest. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of nucleic acid molecules are synthesized directly onto the nanoparticle nucleotide-support platform.