The Entire World can Fit in the Back of Your Car

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DNA data storage is the technology of the future, today. Scientists have been able to successfully store digital computer bytes (0s and 1s) in DNA by converting the bytes to a system where they correspond with a nucleotide. After the DNA is sequenced in a lab according to this system, there will be different parts to the completed strand, also known as a oligonucleotide (oligon for short). The first part of the oligon is a special address that helps the decoder determine which position and order that the messages are in. This is because many files are fairly large, so they are split up among different oligons for better organization. After initial sequencing the encoder must use a process known as PCR to multiply the amount of DNA and oligons that are there, exponentially. Primers attach to the part of the DNA to multiply, and separate it out. Then polymerase will help to finish the other side of the original DNA and the piece that was taken out. This is a process similar to DNA Replication, and it allows for each strand of DNA to have a few just like it. This way, if any strand mutates randomly or is read incorrectly by the machine, it can be compared to another strand and the mistake will be corrected. To get the message by comparing strands with each other, the decoder will need to use a key, which is essentially the password for a cipher of information. The key will allow the decoder to see the nucleotides in the correct order, thus allowing the decoder to read the message properly. In summary, DNA strands are written and then duplicated with PCR and primers during the encoding stage. To decode them in the proper order, all the strands are compared with their copies to make sure that there were no mistakes in reading. After this, the strands are organized according to the address they were given. Data stored in DNA may seem to be a technology that human’s are able to easily use, but the reality is that we are far from using DNA data storage. Currently the cost of each nucleotide is 10 cents, resulting in sequences that cost thousands to produce. In addition, these DNA strands must be sent to different facilities around the world to be encoded. At the current stage, DNA data can not be used efficiently, but if the trend of decreasing costs continues, DNA data may become available. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell that this decreasing price trend will continue, or where funding will come from.