Technical companies store 

information in DNA

In April, technicians from IBM, Intel and Microsoft joined a gathering of computer scientists and genetics scientists in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss the many problems of massive data. Today's data storage exceeds the current capacity of BAT from magnetic tapes and drives as well as flash memory.

The meeting in Arlington was a closed meeting, involving a limited group invited, to discuss the possibilities and capabilities available for a new storage technology, although they have been in existence since the beginning of life.

The expert meeting focused on testing the properties of data storage within DNA by using embedded molecules to encode genetic data within organisms. By converting digital files into biological materials, we can theoretically replace a large facility used to store digital data with very small test tubes. Although the idea has been put forward and discussed for many years has been highlighted recently by technology companies, in order to convert the storage of DNA to reality, in view of the urgent need to do so.

How does DNA storage technology work?

First, we take digital data - usually stored as binary codes (zero or one) - and then convert them into a genetic code (A, C, G, T) - which is the chemical structure of the DNA. After the conversion of the data, the DNA code is given to a company specialized in synthetic biology, which in turn manufactures DNA sequences based on specifications on demand. We get the tubes containing the modified DNA, which is placed in cool stores. When we want to restore the digital data, we exit the tubes and place them in a machine that is used to re-sequence the DNA in order to decode the internal materials. As a result, we get the GATTACA For example, which we can then convert to binary codes in order to restore digital data.

DNA is the most densely stored medium of all storage technologies used. It can store about one gram of data in just one gram of any substance. DNA can last for a very long time of millions of years, ensuring digital data is lost.

It has become very possible to see this technology realized in the near future, thanks to advances in genetic technology. Sequencing machines that read DNA are faster and cheaper. 

Still, collection techniques that write DNA code are modern, less mature and more expensive.

"We can imagine the possibility of storing very large amounts of data in very small spaces, and we already know how to write and read these data, but the question we are asking now is whether we can read and write data at a high level of productivity, At a lower cost? "

Source: IEEE Spectrum