Capturing the Immense Potential of Microscopic DNA for Data Storage
Published:25 Oct.2023 Source:National University of Singapore
In a world first, a 'biological camera' bypasses the constraints of current DNA storage methods, harnessing living cells and their inherent biological mechanisms to encode and store data. This represents a significant breakthrough in encoding and storing images directly within DNA, creating a new model for information storage reminiscent of a digital camera. It is only recently that the idea of using DNA to store other types of information, such as images and videos, has garnered attention. This is due to DNA's exceptional storage capacity, stability, and long-standing relevance as a medium for information storage.
DNA, the key biomaterial of every living thing on Earth, stores genetic information that encodes for an array of proteins responsible for various life functions. To put it into perspective, a single gram of DNA can hold over 215,000 terabytes of data -- equivalent to storing 45 million DVDs combined. Despite its immense potential, current research in DNA storage focuses on synthesising DNA strands outside the cells. This process is expensive and relies on complex instruments, which are also prone to errors. To overcome this bottleneck, Assoc Prof Poh and his team turned to live cells, which contain an abundance of DNA that can act as a 'data bank', circumventing the need to synthesise the genetic material externally.
Imagine the DNA within a cell as an undeveloped photographic film. Using optogenetics -- a technique that controls the activity of cells with light akin to the shutter mechanism of a camera, we managed to capture 'images' by imprinting light signals onto the DNA film. Next, using barcoding techniques akin to photo labelling, the researchers marked the captured images for unique identification. Machine-learning algorithms were employed to organise, sort, and reconstruct the stored images. These constitute the 'biological camera', mirroring a digital camera's data capture, storage, and retrieval processes. The study showcased the camera's ability to capture and store multiple images simultaneously using different light colours. More crucially, compared to earlier methods of DNA data storage, the team's innovative system is easily reproducible and scalable.