As far as data storage is concerned, we¡¯re always looking for bigger storage, and faster access. That¡¯s why we¡¯re always getting bigger and better hard disks and pen drives from the tech industry.
But aside from how much we can store on a medium, it¡¯s also important to consider how long it can endure.
That¡¯s why, for a while now, researchers have been experimenting with storing data in DNA. As crazy as it sounds, it makes a great storage system, despite how long it takes to write and read information from DNA.
That¡¯s because we can pull data from DNA tens of thousands of years old, and can compress it to insane levels. One previous attempt even managed to cram about 215 Petabytes of information into a gram of DNA.
Lifehacker
The reason why that process takes so long to read, is because you had to sequence the entire DNA string to parse any of the data stored within. It¡¯s like if your computer had to read through your entire hard disk each time you opened up a document saved on your desktop.?
Now, a collaboration between Microsoft Research and the University of Washington has figured out a way to add the equivalent of a filing system into the DNA. That way, reading the data would only require checking the ¡°catalogue¡± to see where the files are stored and decoding just those bits.
In addition, the teams also developed a new way to sequence DNA, using custom-built hardware that can fit in your palm. Thanks to this breakthrough, you could sequence an entire human genome using a simple USB device.
Microsoft
The thing is, as promising as this is for the future of DNA storage, we¡¯re nowhere close right now. We have the way to store and retrieve DNA quickly and efficiently, but we¡¯re nowhere close to being able to synthesize enough DNA yet to make it a feasible option. But yes, maybe in a decade or two we won¡¯t ever need cloud storage except for backups, instead keeping our daily data in our very body.