DNA Will Revolutionize Data Storage

[dlf]

 Source: http://startupdestiny.com/2015/02/05/dna-will-revolutionize-data-storage/

Quote:

 

DNA sequencing is following an exponential technology curve and is one step on a path towards controlling our own biological destinies.  From eliminating hereditary diseases by fixing specific genetic mutations to choosing physical and mental traits in our children, we are on the brink of a genetic revolution.  However, using DNA to store data is already possible and may be a game changer in the near future.

Let me explain 

In 2010, Dr. Craig Venter proved that DNA contains all of the necessary information for life by creating the first synthetic life form.  At the most recent Abundance 360 summit, he pointed out that the 4 building blocks of DNA (A, T, C and G) can be converted into binary (1s and 0s), which is the boolean system used by computers.  By converting ATCG into binary, it is possible to store and manipulate genetic code digitally.  Saving data to a synthetic DNA ‘hard drive’ works by converting binary back into ATCG.

DNA has evolved over billions of years to efficiently store information.  In 2012, researchers fit 700 Terabytes of information into a single gram of DNA. Storing that much data on digital hard drives would require hard drives weighing ~151 kilos (333 lbs).  This technology is improving exponentially and the very next year, researchers tripled the storage density to 2,200 Terabytes per gram of DNA.

IBM predicts that 35 Zetabytes (35 billion Terabytes) of data will be generated annually in 2020.  That’s ~7.6 billion kilos (8.4 million tons) of additional hard drive capacity required annually.  The average skyscraper, like the Sears Tower, is ~222,500 tons, so we would need to build 378 new skyscrapers in 2020 just to house our data from that year.  New York City has ~250 skyscrapers, so imagine building a new data storage city as big as NYC each year.

Even assuming that DNA data storage density doesn’t improve from the 2013 rate of 2,200 Terabytes per gram of DNA, we could store all 35 Zetabytes of annual data in ~15,909 kilos (17 tons) of DNA.  That’s less than 2 buses worth.

The primary thing holding this technology back is the current expense of sequencing DNA to convert the data back to binary.  Current DNA sequencing techniques cost ~$12k per Megabyte, which means that sequencing DNA that contains a 1 Gigabyte movie would cost $12 million.

DNA sequencing is an exponential technology and the cost is falling quickly.  Given the amount of data we will soon be generating and the physical space that would be required using hard drives, DNA data storage may be our only hope.

 

How many grams is our entire DNA? It'd be AMAZING to have 2.2 PETABYTES (2000 terabytes) of storage. With a PB or more I think we could all fit our entire (the entire site) steam library . . . . .  IB (In before) obvious use . . . .

[Tonylu1595]

Yeah I forgot how much data sperm has but it was a lot.

Edit: it is 15mb so a shot is around 1,500 TB.

 

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5972863/sperm-carry-over-37-megabytes-of-dna-data-and-other-amazing-science-facts

[givingtnt]

Id love to becom a walking storage.

[C0LL0SS0S]

Holy fuck I wasted so much free space

[Fulgrim]

A single sperm has 37.5mb of DNA information in it. That means that a normal ejaculation represents a data transfer of roughly 1,500TB in about 3 seconds... And you thought 4G was fast.

 

That's a lot of information to swallow. (literally)

[SIGSEGV]

When can I start storing Linux on my face?

[Shally]

Breaking news: Pornhub is the new storage cloud.

[That Norwegian Guy]

Voyager did it.

 

 

Not Simpsons, for once.

[sof006]

Voyager did it.

 

 

Not Simpsons, for once.

I was about to post this! You beat me to it

 

This is super cool that this is actually a thing

[Opcode]

I wonder how much data my feces can hold.

[AlexGoesHigh]

I wonder how much data my feces can hold.

inb4 nsa set up water treatment plants just to search "terrorist plans" that might be inside the poop

[OlekKing]

DNA? People in the US will start petitions asking to ban it.

[azurezeed]

i've read this before, but i can't find the link to the news post i read it from

 

if this become a thing we'll be able to store everything in the world

[kpreg]

this is amazing.... dna hard drives! but the weight will turn off craptop  laptop manufactures for sure.

[hazza_ob]

this is amazing.... dna hard drives! but the weight will turn off craptop  laptop manufactures for sure.

 

I doubt it will be that heavy, look at the company called Illumina, they use a sheet of glass that tests for the hydrogen in the acid in your DNA, the technology they use could be shrinked down even more so the drive could be literally 1cmx1cm

[bogus]

This is taking Johnny Mnemonic to a new level.

[SkilledRebuilds]

"

DNA has evolved over billions of years to efficiently store information"

Religion

 

 

Ontopic - people holding people for ransom (their sacred DNA data)

Future is promising, and scary.

 

 

Fingerprint/thumbprick scanners to unlock PC / storage?

[Will_Man_Dude]

DNA? People in the US will start petitions asking to ban it.

In other news the ban on dihydrogen monoxide has been banned

[Trik'Stari]

In other news the ban on dihydrogen monoxide has been banned

HAH. You mean the "climate change" in California?

[cesrai]

Holy fuck I wasted so much free space

You cut yourself ??

[SkilledRebuilds]

You cut yourself ??

Whacking off - Permanent data removal.

[Will_Man_Dude]

You cut yourself ??

I don't believe that was what he implied if you know what I mean 

[NumLock21]

There is a special pen, with ink that is made with your own DNA.

[Yummychickenblue]

Game Theory did a video about this awhile back:

[SIGSEGV]

I wonder what a DNA drive would look like...