DNA data storage may sound like a far-fetched solution. But a new DNA card launched by a startup called Biomemory brings it closer to reality - anyone can buy it as long as you have $1,000.
DNA has emerged as a theoretical alternative to hard drives, solid-state drives, and other forms of digital data storage, largely because of its impressive longevity. The scientific community estimates that the technology has the potential to last hundreds of thousands of years if stored in a cool, dry environment. That's much longer than the life of a regular hard drive, which typically has a maximum lifespan of around five years.
Biomemory's DNA cards promise a "minimum" lifespan of 150 years. The $1,000 product includes two identical cards, each with 1 kilobyte of storage capacity. According to Wired's profile of the company, that's about the length of a short email, so you can't expect to store a ton of photos, videos, and documents with this card just yet. Still, it's the closest we've seen to offering DNA storage to consumers.
This storage system works by converting digital information into the elements that make up DNA: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). You can see how this conversion works in the "DNA Translation" feature at the bottom of the Biomemory page, which shows how to convert a line of text into a string of A, C, G, and T.
After the encoding process, Biomemory creates a unique strand of DNA through "base-by-base chemical synthesis to match the desired sequence," according to Wired - a process that takes about eight hours for a kilobyte of data. Afterwards, Biomemory will dry the data and paste it on the circular chip of the DNA card. "Wired" said that the chip is sealed and can isolate oxygen.
Still a long way from harnessing all the possibilities of DNA storage
When you are ready to retrieve your data, you must send one of the two DNA cards to Biomemory's partners at EurofinsGenomics. You will then receive a string of A, C, G, and T via email, which you can decode using Biomemory's DNA translation feature. Once the data is decoded, you won't be able to get the card back, which is why you'll get a copy. If you don't send the card to a lab (or happen to have a DNA sequencer handy), it's effectively useless.
Biomemory CEO Erfane Arwani said in a statement: "After years of discussing the potential of molecular computing, we are very proud to bring to market the first DNA data storage product that not only drives innovation but also aligns with our commitment to environmental sustainability and efficiency. You can sign up to join Biomemory's waitlist now, with orders expected to ship in January."
We are still far from harnessing the full possibilities of DNA storage technology. The report in Science magazine estimates that one gram of DNA can store up to 215 petabytes (approximately 215 million gigabytes) of data in a container the size and weight of two pickup trucks. But until we no longer need to work in a lab for hours at a time, DNA storage will likely remain an experiment in storing music videos, short films, photos, or small lines of text.