Microsoft and UW demonstrate first fully automated DNA data storage

Researchers from Microsoft and the University of Washington have demonstrated the first fully automated system to store and retrieve data in manufactured DNA — a key step in moving the technology out of the research lab and into commercial data centers.

[forbiddenera]

Never thought tech support would require biology!

[ikanderson]

In 2050 we will be like


I remember when 1TB was standard...

[jagacesuperjag]

I see a future where living human beings use their own body to store information on their DNA strands. A whole new meaning to information carrier.

[alexanchannel]

Why don't you use A as 00, T as 01, C as 10, and G as 11 ? There is way more potential to this, and less to encrypt. And to not confuse the computer by which side it should start reading the segment, you can simply validate the direction of the reading sequence with the use of a starting codon that the computer understand.

[DheerajSukumaran]

have been waiting for any updates on this technology ever since I heard it back in 2005 or something

[markhaus]

I’m going to use DNA storage to store my DNA sequence

[gravityfalls]

"Microsoft has seen this impending crisis o not being able to store information as we move forward"
Relatable

[nap-nezumi]

How are the 1s and 0s actually converted? Computer code is base 2 and dna is base 4, how does this work

[PAGANONYMOUS]

Is this technology open source? and is it possible to experiment with this technology at home by layman?

[j.c.holmes]

I have to ask, exactly what data Is everyone compiling that needs to be stored? Then the ethical part, because while I am sure they all go out of their way to not overstep what is allowed, or violate right, but it is not that we could, but if we should? Exactly who is it that will benefit from all this data? We are to believe that you can take a skin sample, and use my DNA to store data, but we cannot find a cure for cancer, or prevent bio labs from killing millions, or help cure other diseases? I feel like tax dollars and grant money have gone to research that was labeled something that it certainly was not, and a lot of people should have had help from the research they believed was happening. Instead, they came up with this? Even if it was privately funded, there still remains that why not help people instead of making strides on their backs? Remember when all businesses were considered trusts? Every year they had to show up, and account for what they did, and prover they were benefitting the community in which they serve? Can you imagine even one having to do this now?

[lukejiang]

I think DMF is really a promising field. We can leverage so many experiences we gained from programming CPUs and GPUs into these microfluidics processors. We need several levels of abstractions for both describing a lab procedure in some high-level language and a more operational instruction sets that is closer to the device. Of course, we also need a good compiler and a runtime system. I think programming language plays a greater role than people have realized: most biologists do not have a CS background and they want to program the device using a more high-level programming language that looks similar to natural languages. A good high-level language can better motivate the life science field into lab automation.

[Nine-Signs]

Organic computers + emergent A.i. what could go wrong.

[urgx]

40 bytes per 24 hours. It would take billions of years to take all the data on planet earth right now and write it to dna.

[Mattz]

If the DNA solution is filled to the brim with the DNA sequences, how do they ensure the order of the instructions? surely it wouldn't be in the initial order.

[main]

Ashley had a dead look in her eyes, and I instantly fell in love 😍

[locke]

Here is how I see it. You have your personal genome "fingerprint". You'd register that as an account to store and access/retrieve data/info. The computer/A.I. would record and log everyone's unique genome into it's database and this would be so, as we share fundamentally the same code patterns. So as not to confuse my code bit with your code bit, as they are the same code sequence, the "Genomic ID" would be the differentiator.

A lot like adding an area code to the same sequence of rearranged numbers. Some areas are running out of numbers so they have to merge area codes together or something. So back to the point.. you'd prick your finger or take sweat, etc to log you in, and then you can begin storing documents, or doing the same thing you'd do now on your computer. What gets complicated is you will have to pay to use this, you will be limited to how much you can store, you will be able to rent storage space, or possibly illegal data. You think coding and hackers on computers are intense, imagine genetic code hackers that can hide and mask their own genetic codes. I mean I'm not an expert.

You could possibly hijack others DNA or maybe lace secret messages and data unto people much like moving courier. Higher ups could use a scanning/laser tech and literally code onto unused DNA storage areas and we become walking transmitter/receivers. A bit out there. Either way, biology says that the DNA goes through mutations as we age and each cell isn't 100% genetically as another, so I don't know how this works if our genetics keeps shifting slightly. I read about chimeric cells that are male and some female having XX and some cells XY.

If only 10% is used for amino acid building and the rest is unused then what is or would it be used for? How would it be regulated and what type of value systems or security systems would outline it. I brought up a big thing like this on the neurolink. If we only use 10% of our brain as they say, then could we store things virtually/holographically in our unused areas? It would be like breaking into the subconscious or collective unconscious and programming those neuron clusters. Alot like matrix uploading. You could rent storage and I mean everything would be cybernetically hooked up. So I think the mind and it's processing and storage capabilities will be exploited or tried, and the same with DNA which is a molecular cellular "brain" or blueprint. Our biomicrobs are probably more or less nano-bot like biotech. Tiny molecular and crystalline machines that spiral around and out from the nucleus. Look into microtubules and cytoskeleton. Our cells are structured with a self replicating and reorganizing nanotech much like tendrils. These Microtubules pull apart the DNA and allow the cell to move and provide cytoskeletal support.

If they can pull this off things will get very strange.

[Bertinova]

The Matrix starts with DNA and then, humans will be stored. Pretty cool huh ?

[rohitbhansali]

Is this still under process or developed?

[cozmoz]

So what's the life expectancy of these things?

[Alkalineman]

I’d love to be able to read my current state of dna/rna. Then be able to edit out the “junk”.