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DNA For Information Processing and Data Storage

Posted by CmdrTaco on 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.""

5 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. It works on so many levels by antimatt · · Score: 5, Informative

    And another thing: chemically, DNA is almost heroically unchanging. It is among the most unreactive, inert molecules in the biological world. That means data integrity, a Good Thing.

  2. So how long... by JossiRossi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How long until Religious Nuts start claiming to see hidden messages encoded in our DNA telling us to love Jesus?
    Or
    How long until spies pass messages along in the form of biological matter by sneezing into a tissue?
    Or
    How long until we can buy books in readable vials full of liquid?

    The possibilites are endless and cool but of course it will probably just be used to sell us Coca Cola... so much wasted potential.

    --
    Just a boy doing unproffesional IT work that's way above his head.
    1. Re:So how long... by savagedome · · 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

      --


      Free XBox, PS2
  3. Slow Posting by ClownsScareMe · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could people be *gasp* reading the article?

    --
    I read Slashdot for the articles
  4. Performance Limits on Chemical Computation by tjic · · Score: 5, Informative
    For those interested in such things, a friend wrote his PhD thesis on defining the limits of achievable DNA computation:

    Performance Limits on Chemical Computation.