Eddie Binyon, owner of Binyon Funeral Home of Blanchard, said funeral homes are the most logical place for families to take advantage of the DNA service.

"This is the last chance for a family to preserve this important piece of genetic history," Binyon said. "Once someone has been cremated or embalmed, the option for retrieval is essentially lost forever."

Binyon said DNA samples can help settle disputes involving estates and resolve paternity issues.

"I even know it will be used in court situations where you have families fighting over if someone is truly a child of someone," he said. "I'm excited about it for the living as much I am about the people who have died."

Binyon Funeral Home has offered DNA service for less than one week and no one has yet taken advantage of it. But Binyon said he estimates 20 to 30% of his customers will buy it.

DNA samples are collected from saliva. Patrons can get a DNA map of their body for $295. However, the cost increases to $495 for a deceased subject because samples are harder to retrieve.

DNA samples are stored at DNA Connections of Tuscaloosa, Ala., for 25 years. That, according to Binyon, tightens security.

"I just provide the service," he said. "For security reasons the fewer people that have the actual DNA, the better off."

Binyon said it will only be a matter of time before nearly every funeral home offers the service.

Binyon said DNA collection and retrieval is available at his funeral home to anyone who makes arrangements in advance.