Zoogen Founder Joy Halverson has had a deep and incurable love of animals since childhood. She earned her DVM and MPVM Veterinary Science degrees at the University of California at Davis, and eventually devoted herself to advanced DNA research. Following her passion led her to become a world-leading animal DNA scientist, and achieve several "firsts" in her field.

When Dr. Halverson lost her very dear and devoted dog companion Dustin in 2004, she experimented with ideas to memorialize his DNA. After several years in the lab, she invented a method for creating a visible, aesthetically pleasing double helix strand, and preserving it in durable acrylic. Working with jewelers, the Life Jewel pendant was born. Once friends and colleagues began asking for their own, she realized there was a market for her Life Jewels, and launched the Perpetua custom jewelry line.

Delighted with all the heart-felt appreciation customers have expressed to her over the years, Dr. Halverson continues to enhance her designs. Read Testimonials.

DNA, a substance found in all living things, carries the unique genetic information that, in part, makes us what we are. The DNA is normally tightly compressed into chromosomes; modern scientific methods can liberate it into something that can be seen with the naked eye, studied, and stored in forms like the Life Jewel^TM.

The colored material wound around the wire helix is the actual DNA. At one stage in its processing, DNA looks like egg white. Normally it is a semi-opaque, white color; in the Life Jewel process the DNA binds a fine, luminescent pigment and forms a smooth ribbon in the groove of the wire helix.

There are several ways to collect an animal's DNA. Cheek swabs are a popular and painless method and can be taken by most owners without assistance. With the help of your veterinarian, a blood sample is also a good source.

There is a small amount of DNA in hair that can be used if it is the only sample available. Samples from cheek swabs or hair are augmented with botanical DNA to make the Helix easily visible. The botanical DNA acts as a lattice that supports the pet's DNA without disturbing its unique qualities.

Life Jewels are available for all creatures great and small. Besides cats and dogs, our customers have ordered pendants to celebrate their beloved horses, ferrets, birds and reptiles, as well as people.

Life Jewels are custom-made and guaranteed by Zoogen, the leading provider of DNA services for companion animals. Zoogen provides certification that each Life Jewel contains the submitted DNA, and is signed by Founder Joy Halverson, DVM.

The Life Jewel process eliminates the ability to use the DNA afterwards. You can request to keep an extra DNA sample in storage for replication of your Life Jewel in case of loss. For the purpose of dog and cat identification, you may request that Zoogen perform a DNA profile to keep on file.

For customer service, call: 800.584.2434
E-mail: help@perpetualifejewels.com