Researchers have found a new way to read out files stored in DNA, paving the way toward a future in which data can be stored not as zeros and ones, but as the building blocks of genes.
DNA is a natural information-storage medium. The molecules are stable over centuries, and huge amounts of information can be packed into a small space. This could be an important feature for the future of data storage, given that the amount of data generated globally doubles every five years, says Thomas de Greef, a synthetic biologist at Eindhoven Univ. of Technology in the Netherlands. Along with colleagues at Microsoft, de Greef and his team are working on ways to use DNA to archive data that won’t require large, energy-intensive data centers.
▲ Like servers, DNA could serve as an important information storage vector. Synthetic biologists have determined a way to store information in DNA and read it out multiple times without DNA degradation. And, multiple DNA files can be read out in parallel.
With synthetic DNA synthesis, it’s already...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
