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DNA for data storage. Future is now.......

  • 10-02-2013 3:23pm
    #1
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭


    Heard this story last night on teh radio. Apparently all the worlds information could fit into a vessel the size of a transit van. Currently some geeks are using a test tube to store small stuff for the lulz.

    DNA is thus a long-lived, stable and easily synthesized storage hard drive. While the current electronic storage devices require active and continued maintenance and regular transferring between storage media ..... DNA based storage needs no active maintenance. Just store in a cool, dark and dry place!

    http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/dna-as-an-information-storage-device/article4386875.ece?homepage=true

    TL;DR it's DNA strands used instead of hard disks. Huge capacity but v.long access times and massive costs.

    What do we think AH? Possible uses? All a bit Sci-Fi/Matrix/Futurama for my taste. Can only see the bad sides of this for some reason.


Comments

  • #2
    judgefudge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    Pretty cool if its possible. I would wonder how it is stored though and whether it can be degraded and data lost...


  • #3
    aphex™
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,338 ✭✭✭aphex™


    Geeks eh? Who uses that word anymore? Reminds me when the newspapers used the word 'Boffin' regularly and when Sky News used to imply that anybody who used the Internet often was a paedo.
    judgefudge wrote: »
    Pretty cool if its possible. I would wonder how it is stored though and whether it can be degraded and data lost...
    DNA has a half life of 521 yrs....


  • #4
    squod
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    KAK. Missed my 8,000th post. Wonder if Boards.ie will be achieved forever more.


  • #5
    judgefudge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    aphex™ wrote: »
    DNA has a half life of 521 yrs....

    Presumably it has to be good quality though, not degraded? Therefore it needs to be stored correctly at a very low temperature I would presume? It's an interesting idea but I wonder how practical it is


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