Conventional methods for encoding data into DNA strands involve making custom DNA sequences from scratch. Scientists call this process «de novo synthesis.» This technique is labor-intensive, slow,.
In context: Due to its mind-boggling density, scientists have explored using DNA as a data storage medium for years. A single gram of DNA could theoretically hold a staggering 215,000 terabytes of information. Yet despite the potential, turning it into a practical computing solution has been a struggle.
Conventional methods for encoding data into DNA strands involve making custom DNA sequences from scratch. Scientists call this process «de novo synthesis.» This technique is labor-intensive, slow, expensive, and error-prone.
In a recent study published in Nature, a team from Peking University and three other institutions describe a clever alternative: using naturally occurring DNA methylation to rewrite DNA strands rather than building new ones. Methylation is a part of the epigenetic modification of DNA that occurs during an organism’s life rather than over generations.
