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DNA Storage

Several large colourful test tubes containing models of DNA double helixes. — Photo: Colourbox.de

Due to the rapidly increasing amount of information and the need to archive it in the long term, there is already a significantly greater need for storage space than current systems can provide. DNA, with its density and the resulting high storage capacity, is an ideal storage medium.
Since DNA is also extremely durable when stored appropriately, DNA memories can safely archive data for up to several million years. In contrast to conventional storage methods, such systems are based on a quaternary system. The storage of data thus requires a conversion of binary information into the quaternary format, which also takes into account all the restrictions of the DNA memory.
In this seminar, concepts of DNA storage systems will be discussed. Properties of these systems are explained, and various coding procedures for DNA memories are dealt with.