According to a March 12, 2024 article in the Indian Express, engineers at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the University of Minnesota have developed a method to process data stored in DNA. The “microfluidic integrated circuit” is designed to perform operations through artificial neural network computations on DNA data

Engineers at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and University of Minnesota claimed to have found a way to process data stored in DNA. The “microfluidic integrated circuit” they envision is designed to perform operations through artificial neural network computations on data stored in DNA, according to RIT

DNA has many advantages over traditional storage media:

• Storage density: DNA is at least 1,000 times denser than the most compact solid-state hard drive. 
• Durability: DNA is at least 300 times more durable than the most stable magnetic tapes. 
• Maintenance: DNA doesn’t require maintenance. 
• Cost: Files stored in DNA are easily copied for negligible cost. 
• Compression: DNA offers better compression than traditional digital methods. 
• Stability: DNA offers longer stability than traditional digital methods. 
• Energy cost: DNA offers lower energetic cost than traditional digital methods

DNA can store a staggering amount of information in an almost inconceivable small volume. It is estimated that 1 gram of DNA can hold up to ~215 petabytes (1 petabyte = 1 million gigabytes) of information. 

DNA can be stored at -20°C for short-term use and in ultra-low freezers, typically at or below -80°C for long-term use

A microfluidic integrated circuit designed to perform complex operations through artificial neural network computations on DNA data has been developed by Amlan Ganguly and other researchers at the University of Minnesota and RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering (KGCOE

Neural networks are a subset of machine learning and are at the core of deep learning models. Google’s search algorithm is a well-known example of a neural network. 

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, a polymer that contains genetic instructions for the growth, reproduction, development, and functioning of all known organisms and many viruses. DNA databases can be used to analyze genetic diseases, for genetic genealogy, or for genetic fingerprinting in criminology.

DNA storage has many applications, including:

• Long-term archival storage: DNA can potentially preserve data for centuries or even millennia, unlike traditional storage media like hard drives and tapes. 
• High storage density: 1 mg of DNA can store 2 PB of data, which is equivalent to 3 million pieces of a CD. 
• Strong resistance: DNA can easily be preserved over thousands of years in nature. 
• Low maintenance: DNA storage doesn’t require constant maintenance. 
• Scalability: DNA is a scalable, random-access, and error-free data storage system. 
• Resource and energy conservation: DNA storage offers better compression, higher physical density, longer stability, and lower energetic cost than traditional digital methods. 
• Genome editing: DNA storage can be used for genome editing.

DNA storage involves encoding digital information into strands of DNA, which can then be stored for long periods without degradation

The most promising application of DNA storage is in the field of long-term archival storage. Contrary to traditional storage media, such as hard drives and tapes, DNA can potentially preserve data for centuries or even millennia

According to ScienceDaily, experts expect the first DNA data center to be up and running within five to ten years

DNA storage has the potential to become a viable option for storing and archiving large amounts of data in the future. It has the potential to store one hundred million times more information per gram than modern disk drives. DNA could also reduce the energy consumption by 1,000 times compared to today’s data centers. 

However, there are some difficulties using DNA as a storage medium outside of a living system:

• Cost: DNA storage technology is currently prohibitively expensive. 
• Mutation: DNA is continually replicated in living organisms and has a high probability of eventually mutating in the genome.

Advantages of DNA Storage: Why It is the Future of Data Storage. Although it has some challenges, DNA storage holds immense potential for the future of storage. As research and development continue, we may see DNA storage become a viable option for storing and archiving large amounts of data in the future

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