Special DNA ink marks Super Bowl footballs

Content Originally Published by UPI on Monday January 31, 2011.

DALLAS, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Footballs used in the Super Bowl game in Arlington, Texas, will be marked with invisible synthetic DNA ink to protect against counterfeiting, officials say.

More than 100 footballs will be "tagged," along with sideline pylons and even the coin used in the opening coin flip, a release from PSA/DNA Authentication Services said Monday.

The sports memorabilia authentication company says it will mark each ball with a DNA strand only visible when illuminated by a particular laser frequency.

"The DNA ink has an astronomical 1-in-33 trillion chance of being accurately reproduced by counterfeiters," PSA/DNA President Joe Orlando said.

"Many of the game-used Super Bowl footballs are sold by the NFL through charity auctions," he said. "The PSA/DNA certification combats potential counterfeiting and helps assure future owners that each ball is genuine."

About 120 footballs are expected to be utilized in Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.