DNA For Information Processing and Data Storage

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DNA For Information Processing and Data Storage

Posted by CmdrTaco on Monday December 20, 2004 @08:14AM from the but-how-many-mp3s-can-it-store dept.

Haydn Fenton writes "Here is an article on using DNA for data storage and even information processing. From the article, "The DNA molecule - nature's premier data storage material - may hold the key for the information technology industry as it faces demands for more compact data processing and storage circuitry. A team led by Richard Kiehl, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota, has used DNA's ability to assemble itself into predetermined patterns to construct a synthetic DNA scaffolding with regular, closely spaced docking sites that can direct the assembly of circuits for processing or storing data.""

13 of 234 comments (clear)

640K DNA molecules... by GillBates0 · 2004-12-20 08:20 · Score: 2, Funny

ought to be good enough for anybody.
-GillBates0.

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An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
SCO and DNA by lordsilence · 2004-12-20 08:22 · Score: 4, Funny

Just wait till SCO find infringing code in YOUR DNA..
Slow Posting by ClownsScareMe · 2004-12-20 08:24 · Score: 5, Funny

Could people be *gasp* reading the article?

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Nasty unforeseen consequence by borroff · 2004-12-20 08:24 · Score: 4, Funny

Unfortunately, when the tune "Jingle Bells" is coded in DNA for storage, it turns out to be a version of the flu...
1. Re:Nasty unforeseen consequence by HarveyBirdman · 2004-12-20 08:48 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  You think that's bad? Encoding a Britney Spears album produced Ebola, Rift Valley fever, four Marburg variants and the freakin Andromeda Strain.
  
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  --- Ban humanity.
Re:So how long... by savagedome · 2004-12-20 08:27 · Score: 5, Funny

How long until Religious Nuts start claiming to see hidden messages encoded in our DNA telling us to love Jesus?

Each DNA strand is a number. Like the Hebrew A, Alef is 1. B, Bet is 2. You understand? But look at this. The strands are inter-related. Like take the Hebrew word for father, 'Ab' - Alef Bet... 1, 2 equals 3. Alright? Hebrew word for mother, 'em' - Alef Mem... 1, 40 equals 41. Sum of 3 and 41... 44. Alright? Now, Hebrew word for child, alright, mother... father... child, 'Yeled' - that's 10, 30, and 4... 44

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DNA plus Information Processing equals... by amstrad · 2004-12-20 08:32 · Score: 2, Funny

...Eddie, your super friendly shipboard computer.
Re:It works on so many levels by LSD-OBS · 2004-12-20 08:36 · Score: 2, Funny

Mayonnaise, however, does. And it goes great with chips!

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Today's weirdness is tomorrow's reason why. -- Hunter S. Thompson
Viruses by goombah99 · 2004-12-20 08:41 · Score: 4, Funny

So the equivalent of a SQL, insert field command, will be a retro-virus? Will my database be down...with a cold?

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I would prefer to use RNA by dfn5 · 2004-12-20 08:43 · Score: 3, Funny

Sure, go ahead and use DNA, if you want your data to mutate.
I will use RNA (Raided Nucleic Acid) instead.

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I can just hear it now... by Bhasin_N · 2004-12-20 08:47 · Score: 3, Funny

"In Breaking news, a minor short circuit has caused a freak mutation at Genetic Information Inc. causing all the chips to asexually reproduce and take over the coffe machines"
Re:Already see problems. by ClownsScareMe · 2004-12-20 09:07 · Score: 3, Funny

Take a wild guess.

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I read Slashdot for the articles
Re:So ... by lucabrasi999 · 2004-12-20 09:20 · Score: 2, Funny

We've gone from "heroicly unmodifiable" to "has modifiable sidechains" with two +5 informatives. Someone's right.
You have forgotten Slashdot Rule #6: Don't let the facts get in the way of the moderation.