The Ultimate in Compact Storage Media: DNA Coding (Summary)

The article states that DNA coding is a future form of digital data storage that will be able to hold large amounts of information, and could be considered the file storage utility of the future.  While the article is a little difficult to fully understand, it states that although DNA data can be an expensive alternative, its cost is declining rapidly, which could make it even cheaper than regular file storage devices we use today.  Essentially, one gram of DNA can potentially “store up to 455bn gigabytes: the contents of more than 100bn DVDs, making it the ultimate in compact storage media.”  DNA storage has its advantages, including that it can be copied easily, and still be readable thousands of years in the future.  Unlike using standard binary coding for storing files (0 and 1), DNA coding consists of letters A, C, G and T where A and C represent 0; while G and T represent 1.  It seems as if a lot of further research is required to make this new form of technology a success, and more information and evidence will be needed to convince consumers that this new alternative is better than the existing forms of digital data storage.

Link: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2012/08/the-ultimate-in-compact-storage-media-dna-coding/?woo